Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-31

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

AA Daily

31 January 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - GAP REGION REALIZES 605.3 MILLION U.S.DOLLARS IN EXPORT TO 90 COUNTRIES

[03] PRESIDENT ALIEV OF AZERBAIJAN LEAVES TURKEY

[04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''ITALY HAS GAVE A VERBAL GUARANTEE TO US. IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT HAS SANCTION'' - ''MAYBE OCALAN DID NOT LEAVE ITALY AT ALL''

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN IRAN - ''TERRORISM DAMAGES PEACE AND STABILITY IN REGION''

[06] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''EXPLOSION NEAR MOSUL SHOWS HOW SERIOUS DANGERS WE ENCOUNTER WITH'' - ''THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE IS NOT EFFICIENT''

[07] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER TURK: - ''PLANES DO NOT TAKE OFF FROM INCIRLIK BASE IN ORDER TO HIT TARGETS IN IRAQ'' - ''TURKEY WORKS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH SYRIA FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF OCALAN''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SNOWSTORM IN THRACE REGION
Heavy snowfall which started overnight, paralyzed the daily life and traffic in the Thrace Region. Officials at the Meteorology Regional Directorate said that the snowfall will continue until Monday. A total of 10 village roads in Havsa, Uzunkopru, Meric and Kesan counties of Edirne Province, and 27 village roads in Kofcaz and Demirkoy counties of Kirklareli Province were closed to traffic.

TURKEY PURCHASES ''POPEYE MISSILES'' FROM ISRAEL
Turkey purchased several ''Popeye missiles'' having a range of 150 km, from Israel. The two countries also reached an agreement worth of 2-3 million U.S. dollars in order to produce several parts of the Popeye missile in Turkey.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

THE WORLD BANK DELEGATION VISITS GAP
The delegation of the World Bank headed by Michael Mills, Expert of the World Bank on Social Services, visited Sahabettin Harput, the Governor of Sanliurfa. The delegation will make observations in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), the biggest project of Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

OPERATIONS AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING
Narcotics officials at the Diyarbakir Security Directorate seized a total of 508 kg of drug having a market value of nearly 711 billion Turkish Liras (TL) in the operations they launched in 1998. A total of 130 drug smugglers were captured in the operations.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKISH HAND IN HAND TRANSPLANTATION
Dr. Tuncay Ustuner, a Turkish scientist working in a hospital in Louisville Kentucky, the U.S., was one of the key figures in the successful hand transplantation. Barbara Kiney, an official from the hospital, stressed that Dr. Ustuner's researches shed light on the micro-surgery.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting, Cetin described terrorism as a crime against humanity. He added that the terrorism damages the peace and stability in the region.

PRESIDENT ALIEV OF AZERBAIJAN LEAVES TURKEY
President Haydar Aliev of Azerbaijan who was under medical treatment in the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA), left Turkey for Azerbaijan after his medical treatment was completed. Prof. Dr. Cetin Harmankaya, the Commander of the GATA, said that the health condition of Aliev who was suffering from an infection in his respiratory system and bronchitis, is perfect. President Suleyman Demirel saw his Azeri counterpart's off at the Esenboga Airport.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

WINTER COMES BACK
Heavy rain and snowfall which started overnight paralyzed daily life and traffic in different parts of Turkey. While a total of 30 village road were closed to the traffic in Central Kayseri Province, snow thickness reached 10 centimetre at the city center of Edirne Province in the Thrace Region. Officials at the Meteorology Regional Directorate said that the bad weather contiditions will continue.

[02] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - GAP REGION REALIZES 605.3 MILLION U.S.DOLLARS IN EXPORT TO 90 COUNTRIES

In 1997, the region exported 649 million 365 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural, animal and industrial products to 74 countries.

In 1998, Turkey entered into new markets like Northern Ireland, Malta, Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Nambia, Mali, Senegal, Honduras, Uruguay, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal while she lost the Canary Islands' and Nigerian markets.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that in 1998, they exported 309 million 614 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 150 million 953 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 55 million 397 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits; 13 million 431 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock and 75 million 994 thousand U.S. dollars in industry.

''The majority of the goods were exported to Iraq, Syria and Italy and the Turkish goods in greatest demand were carpets, synthetic thread and dried apricot,'' he mentioned.

''We realized 158.5 million U.S. dollars to Europe in exports; 241.3 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Middle East; 65.5 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Turkish Republics; 14.3 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States; 12.6 million U.S. dollars to Africa; 20.3 million U.S. dollars to the American continent; 4.5 million U.S. dollars to Asia and 87.9 million U.S. dollars in exports to other countries in 1998,'' Cikmaz added.

[03] PRESIDENT ALIEV OF AZERBAIJAN LEAVES TURKEY

Prof. Dr. Cetin Harmankaya, the Commander of the GATA, said that the health condition of Aliev who was suffering from an infection in his respiratory system and bronchitis, is perfect.

President Suleyman Demirel saw his Azeri counterpart's off at the Esenboga Airport.

Meanwhile President Aliev thanked President Demirel for his sincere interest.

[04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''ITALY HAS GAVE A VERBAL GUARANTEE TO US. IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT HAS SANCTION'' - ''MAYBE OCALAN DID NOT LEAVE ITALY AT ALL''

Responding to a question, Ecevit reminded, ''a reliable source in Italy told us this morning that Ocalan is about to arrive in Italy, but we have no detailed information whether Ocalan plans to stay in Italy or to proceed another country from Italy afterwards. If this news is not a misleading, Ocalan should be in Italy for the time being.''

Noting that Ocalan encounters difficulties to find a shelter for himself, Ecevit pointed out, ''such difficultuies will continue and I think this is just a slight punishment for a terrorist such as him. Several European countries were supporting the separatist terrorist PKK before Ocalan came to Europe. But they have begun to close their doors on Ocalan's face when he attempted to take shelter in Europe.''

Responding to a question whether Turkey has taken a reliable guarantee from Italy over the issue of Ocalan or not, Ecevit noted, ''Italy has gave us a verbal guarantee. It was not a guarantee that has sanction on Italy. But as we see, countries having connections with Ocalan and his terrorist organization PKK, has not known what to do recently. We need more time now. The issue of Ocalan was also brought onto the agenda of the annual monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday.''

Ecevit also added, ''we received informations saying that Ocalan went to Russia after he left Italy, but these were not official informations. Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov ensured us that they will not shelter Ocalan in any condition. We have never suspected from the guarantee of a serious country such as Russia.''

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN IRAN - ''TERRORISM DAMAGES PEACE AND STABILITY IN REGION''

Addressing the journalists following his meeting with President Mohammed Khatemi of Iran, Cetin stressed that further improvement of bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran will be beneficial for the protection of peace and stability in the region.

Describing terrorism as a crime against humanity, Cetin noted that international cooperation is extremely significant for the success of struggle against terrorism. Cetin quoted Khatemi as saying, ''we do not approve terrorism, and do not provide assistance to any terrorist organization.''

Stressing that Iraq should obey to the resolutions of the United Nations, President Khatemi of Iran pointed out that Iraq's territorial integrity should be protected.

Khatemi also emphasized that trade volume between Turkey and Iran should be increased. He wanted Cetin to convey his best wishes to President Suleyman Demirel and invited Demirel to Iran.

Cetin came together with Hashemi Rafsanjani, former President of Iran, on Sunday morning.

Describing his contacts in Iran as positive and productive, Cetin expressed wish over the relations between Turkey and Iran will further improve.

[06] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''EXPLOSION NEAR MOSUL SHOWS HOW SERIOUS DANGERS WE ENCOUNTER WITH'' - ''THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE IS NOT EFFICIENT''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who joined a television programme on the state run TRT-International channel, pointed out, ''latest developments showed that the U.S. intelligence is not enough at all. The Incirlik Base in the Southern Adana Province was put on alert although there was no sign of an attack. This shows both Turkey and Iraq and the whole region encounter with serious dangers during the recent escalating process. Mutual provocations has caused an escalation in the region. We are heading towards somewhere unknown to us, with mutual incitements and provocations.''

Ecevit stressed that the latest applications are not seem to be appropriate to the United Nations' resolutions, adding, ''for example, the U.N. Security Council's resolution taken after the Gulf War, stipulated the unification of Iraq and called overall ethnic groups in Iraq to find a solution through dialogue. But such a dialogue was prevented afterwards. Such unappropriate applications have been taking place since the Gulf War in the region.''

Stressing that he believes that the U.S. has no policy about the issue, Ecevit expressed concern over the latest developments. He noted, ''if we could have seen the future, we would be able to determine our own attitude. Turkey should contribute to remove this lack of policy. The U.S. stated previously that she is open to the suggestions regarding the issue.''

Reminding that the Democratic Left Party (DSP) has developed a plan regarding the issue in 1996, Ecevit noted that they are trying to make the plan more comprehensive by considering the new developments in the region.

Ecevit emphasized that if pressure is required to overcome the Iraqi crisis, it should be a political pressure rather than armed pressures.

Mentioning the Patriot missiles which have been deployed at the Incirlik Base, Ecevit reiterated that the Patriot missiles are the missiles of defense. Noting that it is not clear that what will happen in the region where Turkey also takes place, ecevit said ''therefore we requested the U.S. to send the Patriot missiles against a possible attack and the U.S. have accepted our request.''

[07] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER TURK: - ''PLANES DO NOT TAKE OFF FROM INCIRLIK BASE IN ORDER TO HIT TARGETS IN IRAQ'' - ''TURKEY WORKS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH SYRIA FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF OCALAN''

Addressing the journalists, Turk stressed, ''the planes take off from the Incirlik Base for routine enforcement over the no-fly zone in Northern Iraq, but sometimes these aircrafts use their right of self defense.''

Noting that attacts from Turkey to Iraq or from Iraq to Turkey are not in question, Turk pointed out that the Patriot missile air defense battery which has deployed at the Incirlik Base is temporary.

Turk also stressed that Turkey works to improve relations with Syria after the departure of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of separatist terrorist organization PKK, from Damascus.

A.A

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