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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-03-11Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>AA Daily11 March 1999 ThursdayCONTENTS
[01] NEW STATUS OF BRCKO CITY OF BOSNIA, - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''WE HOPE THAT THIS DECISION, WHICH IS SUPPORTED ALSO BY TURKEY, WILL ACCELERATE THE RETURNS TO THE REGION BY PROVIDING PEACE AND SECURITY IN BRCKO''ANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - Turkey announced on Wednesday that she supports the decision on taking Brcko city in Bosnia under the administration of all ethnic groups in Bosnia, and hopes that this decision will help in the return for the plural mosaic in the region before the war.The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Brcko's status of belonging couldn't be solved at the negotations for the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war, and the solution was left to the final decision to be made by the Arbitration. Pointing out that Brcko was announced to be a ''region having a special status'' with a decision taken on 5 March by Brcko arbitrator Robert Owen, the statement said that the administration of the region was left to a government which is under international surveillance and ruled by Bosnia Herzegovina, and which represents all the groups within the control of all the joint institutions. The Foreign Ministry said in its statement that Turkey expects that the parties fully comply with the mentioned decision and that she hopes that this decision will accelerate the returns to the region by providing peace and security in Brcko and will help turning into the pluralist mosaic in the region as before the war. The statement noted that the decision will give the opportunity to re- confirm the pluralist structure which was set up by the Dayton Peace Agreement and that it will contribute to the regional economy by the increasing amount of foreign economic investment. Brcko, which had been ruled by the Serbians who were under international surveillance, was before decided to be taken under the control of all the ethnical groups in Bosnia. [02] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN ISRAEL - ISRAELI PRESIDENT WEIZMAN GIVES ASSURANCES THAT THEY WON'T SET UP RELATION WITH TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION - CETIN: ''THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ISRAEL ARE NOT AGAINST ANY COUNTRY''JERUSALEM, 11 (A.A) - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, said on Wednesday that Ezer Weizman, the President of Israel, gave assurances that Israel won't set up relations with the terrorist PKK organization or with any so-called representative of PKK.Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Cetin, who arrived in Israel two days ago to pay an official visit, said that he held very intensive and beneficial contacts with the Israeli officials. Cetin said Israeli President weizman and he discussed the bilateral relations and the regional issues at their meeting. Noting that the issue of struggle against terrorism was put into the agenda of their meeting, Cetin said, ''we discussed that Israel, which suffered a lot from terrorism, should show understanding to Turkey's struggle against terrorism and that Turkey never accepts a relation with the terrorist organization or with any of its so-called representative.'' Parliament Speaker Cetin said Israeli President Weizman stressed that Israel's relationship with the terrorist organization is out of question and they earlier didn't set up relations with the terrorist organization, emphasizing that they will continue to support Turkey's struggle against terrorism. Cetin said that an association or organization, which has not any connection with the Israeli government or state, started to make efforts to invite Yasar Kaya, the chairman of the so-called Kurdish parliament, to Israel. Cetin said that the Israeli officials told him that they prevented the invitation when the Israeli government was informed of the situation. Stressing that the agreements signed between Turkey and Israel are not against any country, Hikmet Cetin said, ''we have moral responsibilities for the Palestinian people. We have friendly ties with the Arab countries. I want to recall that it is out of question that we reach an agreement or set up pact against them.'' Hikmet Cetin said that Dan Tichon, the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament, and he reached a consensus that the interparliamentary relations should continue between the commissions. Cetin said the issue of struggle against terrorism was discussed during his meeting with Tichon, and Tichon told him that the Israeli Parliament condemns terrorism and supports Turkey's struggle against terrorism. Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin will meet on Thursday with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. [03] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 11, 1999. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)THE CRUELSThe enemies of the public worked all day on Wednesday. The assailants who bombed a taxi in Bakirkoy district of Istanbul in the afternoon, organized another attack in Atakoy in the evening. A bomb which was left in a taxi that was parked near a big shopping mall in Bakirkoy district exploded, killing one and injuring eight people; while a bomb which was placed under a car that was parked in the parking lot of another shopping mall in Atakoy district exploded in the evening, causing only financial damages. Fortunetely, no deaths or injuries were recorded in the second explosion. ''ROGUE'' STATE IMPLICATURE FROM DEMIREL TO ATHENS MILLIYET (LIBERAL)THE HAPPY DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURTThe Supreme Court annuled on Wednesday the decision of the Izmir State Security Court (DGM) concerning the imprisonment terms of 16 persons including university students, saying that the interrogation was insufficient. THE ATATURK AIRPORT INCREASES ITS TARGETS SABAH (LIBERAL)A TOTAL OF 11 TERRORISTS KILLED, 2 CAPTUREDA total of eleven terrorists were killed and two others were captured in the operations held in southeastern Tunceli, Diyarbakir and Bingol provinces; while a Turkish soldier died and two others injured. AN ORGANIZED CRIMES DESK SET UP CUMHURIYET (LEFT)THE LOST TRILLION CASE OF THE BANNED RPThe trial of a total of 79 persons including Necmettin Erbakan, the last chairman of the banned Welfare Party (RP), Sevket Kazan and Ahmet Tekdal, the deputy chairmen of the banned RP, with the demand of imprisonment terms changing from three to eight years, continued on Wednesday. The mentioned persons are being tried on charges of cheating the public institution and acting illegally against the Political Party Law by showing that they distributed the Treasury fund to 71 branches of their party. Everbody except Erbakan participated in the hearing. CEYLAN'S IMPRISONMENT APPROVED Ceylan will stay in prison for four months and 20 days in accordance with the Enforcement Law. RADIKAL (LEFT)IT IS NOW TIME FOR TURKEYThe finance and economy board of the International ING Barings company which has headquarters in New York, London and Hong Kong said Turkish economy has ''a bright future'' in the economy report it published before the general elections. The report said an ANAP-DSP coalition is expected after April 18 elections as the ''best scenerio'' for Turkey. FIRST FEMALE TURKISH DEPARTMENT CHIEF IN U.N. YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)FP'S SECRET BARGAININGPrime Minister Ecevit harshly criticized the Virtue Party (FP) for giving support to the 'upset' deputies who want to postpone the elections and likened it to the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) for creating a turmoil before the elections. ''The FP, after realizing that the Democratic Left Party (DSP) will come out as the first party from the elections, is trying to escape from the elections. The arrow has left its bow, postponing the elections would result in a chaos, ruin the politics and impair the Parliament's respectibility,'' Ecevit said. ''The banned RP used to create political depressions. It seems like FP has a tendency to continue the same tradition,'' the Prime Minister added. ''The FP is trying to create an uneasiness while Turkey is approaching the elections in a peaceful environment. It is obvious that there is a fear of election behind FP's behaviour,'' he continued. The Prime Minister also stated that the leaders of the True Path Party (DYP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) were against delaying the elections. GOVERNOR CEVIK RECOVERS IMF AID DEPENDS ON US ''Turkey is not in a state that requires an urgent aid. But we are not only trying to save the day. We want to build the tomorrow as well,'' Ulugbay stated. TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)YILMAZ, LEADER OF ANAP: ''THE POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS WILL CAUSE CHAOS''Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that everybody should come to his senses and that if not, there will be a chaos. CETIN, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER, MEETS WEIZMAN, ISRAELI PRESIDENT ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)DIPLOMATIC TRAFFIC ON CYPRUSDetlev Randzau, the Special Envoy of Germany, which is running the Term Presidency of the European Union (EU) at the moment, met with Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Denktas said, ''the Greek Cypriot's not deploying the missiles they bought from Russia on Cyprus is not a situation to be approved. Because, they now are in a situation of buying more missiles. We told this to Randzau.'' Randzau said that they want that the solution of the Cyprus issue should not be made more difficult. [04] JUSTICE MINISTRY TO FOLLOW ORGANIZED CRIME MORE CLOSELY WITH THE NEW ORGANIZED CRIME DESK FORMED WITHIN THE MINISTRYANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - The Justice Ministry created an Organized Crime Desk within the ministry to provide better coordination between the related institutions, it was reported on Thursday.In the circular sent to the Public Prosecutor's office which carried the signature of Selcuk Oztek, the Justice Minister, it was said that the organized crime organizations are formed both in national and international levels, violate the law for their high interest and disrupt the public peace seriously. This type of organizations, as it happens in terrorism, use violence, force, threats, and intimidations to pursue their goals, it was noted. The circular which quoted some articles of the Turkish Criminal Code, also reminded that a draft law related to the organized crime was in the Parliament's agenda. The new desk has been created within the scope of General Directorate of Penalty ''to deal exclusively with organized crime in order to provide the coordination between the related institutions,'' until the draft law is becomes legally valid, it was said in the circular. The Organized Crime Desk will fight against the organized crime more effectively and work to capture the criminals and reveal their links with the crimes. The investigations regarding these crimes will be run by either the the head public prosecutors or the public prosecutors who are assigned by them. The circular underlines the importance of coordination between the related provincial institutions and asked the public prosecutors in several provinces to inform the new founded desk about the crimes immediately to be able to handle the matter from a single hand. It is also required that the identity of the criminal, the date, the place, and the nature of the committed crime, and other information that might be helpful to explain the crime would be marked on a printed form. This form will be sent to the General Directorate of Penalty along with any written claims and court decisions. This will later be handed over to the Organized Crime Desk. [05] THE FAILURE OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - THE CONFERENCE TO WHICH THE SO-CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION ATTENDED, ENDSSTRASBOURG, March 11 (A.A) - The conference which was held by the Greens Group in the European Parliament (EP) and to which the so-called representatives of the terrorist organization PKK attended, ended with failure on Wednesday night.The political groups in the EP gave an open and meaningful message to the Greens Group by not participating in the conference to which Kendal Nezan, the Chief of Paris Kurdish Institute, and the so-called representatives of the terrorist organization PKK joined. It is reported that Nihat Akyol, the Turkish Representative in the European Union (EU), sent a letter of warning to the political groups concerning that it was a mistake to hold such a meeting under the auspices of the EP, prior to the conference. The Green Group parliamentarians who were affected by the boycott of the other groups, requested that the terrorist organization PKK should put an end to their violent acts in Europe during the conference which resulted in failure. Daniel Cohn Bendit, a member of the Greens Group and one of the famous names of the 1968 students movement, said in his speech that the terrorist organization is involved in violent acts and that he does not trust the organization because it is an old-fashioned Stalinist organization. [06] TURKEY'S TOURISM EXPENDITURES INCREASES DAY BY DAY - THE WTTC SAYS THAT TURKEY WILL BE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WHICH THE TOURISM EXPENDITURES INCREASES THE MOST IN FIVE YEARSANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - The World Tourism Travelling Council (WTTC) said on Thursday that Turkey will be one of the countries, the tourism expenditures of which, increases the most in the following five years.The research carried out by WTTC indicated that Turkey is the third among the countries which the tourism expenditures will increase the most in the following five years, and which will be the first among the European countries in this category. The estimations indicated that the travelling expenditures of Turkey will probably increase by 230 percent in the following five years. The expected rate of increase in the travelling expenditures of the European countries are as follows: The countries Expected rate of increase (%) ------------- ------------------------------- Portugal 116 Finland 109 Sweden 99 Spain 93 Denmark 93 Britain 93 Greece 91 Italy 89 Norway 89 Ireland 89 Austria 82 Belgium 81 Germany 80 France 79 The Netherlands 78 Switzerland 73</PRE> [07] TRAIN TOURS ARE STARTING IN MAY TO PROVIDE A SAFE TRIP TO TURKISH CITIZENS WHO LIVE ABROAD AND VISIT TURKEY IN SUMMERANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - Train tours will start between Australia and Edirne to provide a trouble free trip to Turkish citizens who live in Europe and come to Turkey to spend their summer vacations, it was reported on Thursday.The train tours which were also organized in the previous years, aim to offer the passengers a safe trip and prevent problems they sometimes face during their trip when they visit Turkey. The Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD) has recently signed a protocol agreement with the German firm Optimatour. According to the agreement, Optimatour will share a part of its income with the TCDD. The train route which starts from Australia, passes through Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and terminates in Edirne. The tours will start on May 10 and continue until the end of October. The citizens who travel on this train will also be able to bring their cars with them to Turkey with the special 'auto-couchette' system. It was reported that the number of Turkish citizens who take the train is regularly increasing. A total of 15,000 passengers and 5,600 vehicles in 1996; 21,000 passengers and 7,600 vehicles in 1997; and 25,000 passengers and 10,000 vehicles came to Turkey last year. [08] TURKEY-IMF MEETINGS - COTERELLI, THE CHIEF OF THE TURKISH DESK OF IMF: - ''WE TRY TO PREPARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS''ANKARA/WASHINGTON D.C., March 11 (A.A) - Carlo Coterelli, the Chief of the Turkish desk of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Thursday that they try to prepare the infrastructure of the financial support agreement with Turkey which will probably be signed following the elections that will be held in April.Addressing a statement to A.A correspondent about the meetings between the IMF and the Turkish delegation headed by Hikmet Ulugbay, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of State Responsible From Economy, in Washington D.C.; Coterelli said that the infrastructural meetings which will give opportunity to a financial support agreement continues efficiently and usefully. Stating that the inflation in Turkey has a tendency to decrease, but that he expects some structural reforms, Coterelli noted that they believe that the government which will be formed after the elections in Turkey will realize the Banking Law, and the reforms on social security, agriculture and privatization, adding that they see that Turkey is determined on these issues. Cotorelli added that the final statement about the meetings will probably be issued on Friday. [09] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ARRIVES IN ROMANIA - DEMIREL: ''THE TRIPARTITE SUMMIT HELPS THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE''ANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Thursday that the tripartite summit between the presidents of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria helps the improvement of the peace and security in the Southeastern Europe.Demirel said in the statement he issued prior to his departure to Romania that the talks and the decisions in the first and second summits were turned into agreements. Stating that the third summit will help the improvement of peace and security in the Southeastern Europe, Demirel said, ''a tripartite agreement was signed between the mentioned three countries concerning the cooperation in some problems like terrorism, smuggling, druf trafficking in the first two summit meetings which were held in Varna and Antalya and they were put into effect.'' Recalling that Bulgaria and Romania are the members of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Demirel noted that the target of the three countries is integrated with the West European system. Stressing that the framework of the BSEC was drawn by an agreement last year, Demirel said, ''within this framework, the countries which want to make the Black Sea a peace lake, decided to have cooperation in trade, economic and security fields.'' Demirel added that they will discuss having a free trade zone agreement a tourism cooperation agreement between the three countries in the third summit. Recalling that the first of the European cooperation efforts was realized on Crete and the second in Antalya, Demirel said, ''Thus, on one side we try to solve the regional problems, on the other side we try to prepare the situation in which these problems can be solved. The aim of my visit is this.'' [10] ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER, AKTAS IN ASKABATASKABAT, March 11 (A.A) - Ziya Aktas, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources came to the Turkmenistan capital, Askabat on Thursday to have official contacts.Aktas who spoke at the 4th International Oil and Natural Gas Conference said the relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan are developing in a very positive direction. Aktas stated that the Caspian region became a very important center at the beginning of the 21st century and the importance given to the region was doubled after the Caspian countries gained their independence. The Energy Minister also pointed out that the demand for natural gas is increasing everyday as a need both for the industry and everyday life in Turkey which is an economically developing country. Meanwhile, the talks between Turkish and Turkmen delegations are expected to finalize on Thursday. The agreement between Turkmenistan Natural Gas Company and BOTAS will be signed on Friday and will also be attended by the Energy Minister Aktas. [11] NEWS IN BRIEF - MARCH 11, 1999NEW YORK - Aysegul Durakoglu, a Turkish pianist, gave on Wednesday night a successful piano recital in the Merkin Concert Hall of New York city of the U.S.Durakoglu played C minor K475 fantasy of Mozart, Opus 26 Fashingsschwank aus Wien of Schumann, and seven popular folk tunes of Cemal Resid Rey in her recital. IZMIR - Tourism information offices will be set up in the most important regions of western Izmir province and its touristic counties. An official from Izmir Police Organization said that they will set up modern tourism information offices which have telephones, faxes, and computers in the touristic counties of Izmir like Cesme, Selcuk and Bergama and in Konak district of Izmir, in the bus station, fair, ports. The official added that they want to activate these offices in the Tourism Week. ISTANBUL - The biggest commercial vessel named ''Atlantic Trader'' which is constructed by Atlantic Navigation Incorp. in Turkey, will be launced on March 14, 1999. The vessel which is 149.5 meters in overall length and has a capacity of 16, 500 Dwt, is constructed in a way that it meets all the requirements of the international conventions. [12] BAYAR, MINISTER OF INTERIOR: - ''SOME ORGANIZATIONS UNDERTAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EXPLOSIONS, BUT THEIR UNDERTAKING THESE EXPLOSIONS MAY NOT ALWAYS BRING US TO THE TRUTH''IZMIR, March 11 (A.A) - Cahit Bayar, the Minister of Interior, said on Thursday that some organizations undertake the responsibility of the explosions which occured in Istanbul, but that their undertaking these explosions may not always bring them to the truth.Responding the questions of the journalists on the explosions which occured in Istanbul, Bayar said that the security forces take measures to prevent new incidents and to capture the assailants. Stating that such incidents will decrease as the assailants are captured, Bayar said, ''but, unfortunately, there are some cruel people among us. We have to struggle against them as a state and as a nation. You live in this country, you survive by the resources of this country, and you kill the innocent people. The Republic of Turkey will overcome all these.'' Bayar said in the opening of the Election Security Regional Governors Meeting that they will discuss the measures to be taken during the elections, the general security and the tourism season which will start soon. [13] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE TO UZBEKISTANANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan between March 15-16 as the guest of his Uzbek counterpart Islam Kerimov, it was reported on Thursday.The Foreign Ministry issued a written statement saying that the bilateral relations between Turkey and Uzbekistan will be taken up during the President Demirel's visit to Uzbekistan besides other regional and international matters. President Demirel is also scheduled to attend opening ceremony of a passenger bus and truck factory which was established by the Koc Holding, a leading Turkish firm, in Samarqand. Meanwhile, Turkish-Uzbek Business Council will convene in Tashkent during the official visit of President Demirel in order to discuss the opportunities to increase the existing commercial relations and to further improve the trade volume between the two countries. President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Uzbekistan is expected to accelerate the relations between Turkey and Uzbekistan. [14] TOTAL OF 10 TRILLION TL. CREDIT OFFERED TO SIRNAK, MARDIN, GAZIANTEP AND SANLIURFA BASED FIRMS WHICH DOES BUSINESS WITH IRAQANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - A total of 10 trillion TL. will be transferred to Halkbank from the Development and Support Fund to provide financial support for the Sirnak, Mardin, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa based firms which do business with with Iraq.The related decision of the Ministers Board came into effect on Thursday. The act was passed as a measure to help these firms to overcome the financial bottleneck they are in because of the difficulties they face in collecting money from Iraq. The approval of the Higher Planning Board will not be required to transfer the 10 trillion TL. to Halkbank which will be used by the firms in Sirnak, Mardin, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa. [15] MUGE KANSU, TURKEY'S MICROSOFT MARKETING MANAGER: ''LIKE MANY COUNTRIES, MOST TURKISH COMPANIES DO NOT KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE REGARDING THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM''IZMIR, March 11 (A.A) - Muge Kansu, Turkey's Microsoft Backoffice Marketing Manager said like many other countries, most people and companies in Turkey do not know what needs to be done regarding the 'year 2000 problem'.Kansu said, although it looks like a simple question, the problem will show itself in the computers which are used to record dates. She stated that it was expensive to create memory in the computers 30-35 years ago, therefore only the last two digits of dates were entered. ''There are no simple solutions on the year 2000 problem. For example if you were born in 1967, you can calculate your correct age by subtracting 67 from 99. But you cannot get a correct result if you subtract 66 from 00. There is also a leap year problem. Since there are only 29 days in February of 2000, it is a leap year. It is easy to calculate leap years but some systems fail to recognize year 2000 as a leap year,'' she explained. Kansu stated that it was hard to guess the possible effects of the year 2000 problem and continued: ''There are two scenarios. The whole system might collapse or it might collapse only partially. It is easier to recognize a total collapse and an urgency plan could be used in this case. It is harder to notice a partial collapse and the user might not be aware of the problem which might result in incorrect calculations,'' she said. Kansu also pointed out that the sufficiency of the studies on the problem is debatable and added that the U.K., U.S., Australia, Canada and Singapour have made more advanced preparations compared to other countries. ''It is said that ten percent of the companies all around the world will not survive after 2000. The U.S. government has allocated 4,7 billion U.S. dollars to solve this problem from its budget. The total repair cost in the U.S. is estimated as 276 billion U.S. dollars. In Turkey the total cost might be upto 25 billion U.S. dollars,'' Kansu concluded. [16] TEN AIRCRAFTS TO JOIN THE THY THIS YEARANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - A total of ten aircrafts including nine Boeings and an Airbus, will join the Turkish Airlines this year, it was reported on Thursday.The Aircraft Purchase Project which took place in 1997 Investment Programme, will continue until 2002 and a total of 49 aircrafts will be purchased within this period. Officials told the A.A correspondent that purchase of 26 of 49 aircrafts have become definite while option has been taken for other 23 aircrafts. The decision regarding the purchase of nine aircrafts has been sent to the Higher Planning Council. Aircrafts will be used for domestic and/or Europe-Asia flights. The total project cost is about 250 trillion Turkish Liras. [17] BLOODY BALANCE SHEET OF TERRORISM FOR 15 YEARSANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - Terrorist organization PKK has launched a total of 19 thousand 470 separate actions by attacking security forces, using explosives, and launching armed attacks on domiciles and vehicles for the last 15 years, it was reported on Thursday.According to the records of the Office of General Staff, a total of 4,219 soldiers, 1,387 policemen and village guards died in clashes with terrorists while a total of 5,316 civilians including many women and children were massacred by terrorists. Meanwhile, a total of 17 thousand 172 security officials including 9,053 soldiers, 2,216 policemen and village guards, were injured in clashes. Security forces have seized a total of 2,502 kg of heroin, 13,363 kg of hashish, 4,255 kg of base morphine, 621 gr cocaine and 2,125 kg of indian hemp belonged to the terrorist organization since 1984. According to the records of the Office of General Staff, a total of 19 thousand 470 terrorist actions launched by the PKK between 1984 and March 3, 1999 are as follows: -Attacks on security forces............. 4,178 -Armed conflict......................... 4,580 -Armed attack on domiciles and vehicles. 2,651 -Usurpation and robbery................. 540 -Homicide............................... 1,358 -Injuries............................... 71 -Kidnapping............................. 1,286 -Using explosives....................... 3,633 -Other incidents........................ 1,173 Meanwhile numbers of security forces who were killed or injured in struggle against terrorism between August 15, 1984 and March 3, 1999 are as follows: . MARTYR INJURED TOTAL Noncommissioned Officer. 236 577 813 Private................. 3.723 7.889 11.612 Police.................. 166 504 670 Village guard........... 1.221 1.712 2.933 TOTAL .................. 5.606 11.269 16.875 [18] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE TO 20.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARSANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank increased to 20 billion 550 million U.S. dollars, it was reported on Thursday.The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which climbed by 403 million U.S. dollars between February 26 and March 5, increased to 20 billion 550 million U.S. dollars as of 5 March. The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 20 billion 147 million U.S. dollars on 26 February. Meanwhile, according to the 19 February-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 411 million U.S. dollars to 32 billion 582 million U.S. dollars between 12-19 February. The international gross reserves of Turkey were 32 billion 171 million U.S. dollars on 12 September. As of 19 February, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 12 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 20 billion 392 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 11 billion 177 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves. [19] HAKTANIR, UNDERSECRETARY OF THE FM: - ''OVERALL COUNTRIES WHICH WERE INVOLVED IN PKK TERRORISM, ARE UNDER A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY''ISTANBUL, March 11 (A.A) - Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday that Greece's supporting attitude towards terrorist organization PKK which is known to whole world for the time being, caused relations between Turkey and Greece to be placed on top of the agenda.The Foreign Ministry gave a brifing to the representatives of the business circles and the non-governmental organizations about Turkey's foreign policy and the latest actual developments. Addressing the brifing, Haktanir stressed, ''Greece must break off her connections with terrorism instantly and put an end to her hostile policy against Turkey. Greece's connection with terrorism also extends to the Southern Cyprus. All these connections should come to an end immediately.'' Referring the foreign support given to the terrorist organization PKK, Haktanir said, ''the member countries to the European Union (EU) have also given a bad exam about the struggle against terrorism except for several exceptions. On the other hand, the U.S. has supported sincerely Turkey's struggle against terrorism. If PKK was not given such a support which was contrary to overall international agreements and obligations, terrorism could not have continued for 15 years and thousands of people who lost their lives in PKK's brutal actions, would be with us now.'' Haktanir underlined, ''overall countries which were involved in PKK terrorism, are under a heavy responsibility.'' Pointing out that the Turkish nation and state will never tolerate the supporters of terrorist organization PKK to continue their demontrations in abroad, Haktanir emphasized that such actions should not be allowed anyway. Haktanir also stressed the importance of the contacts among the Foreign Ministry, business circles and the non-governmental organizations. Meanwhile, issues such as ''Foreign Ministry's Opening Policies Towards Africa, the Latin America and the Asia-Pasific Region'', ''Bilateral Relations with Greece and the Aegean Problem'', ''Cyprus Question'', ''Relations Between Turkey and the EU'', and ''Relations Between Turkey and the U.S.'' were taken up during the brifing which was closed to the press members. Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Zafer Caglayan, the Chairman of the Ankara Trade Chamber, Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairperson of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), and leading names of the business circles were in attendance at the brifing. Aldo Kaslowski, the Italian businessman who conveyed the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD)'s letter to Italy, also attended the brifing. [20] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN ISRAELJERUSALEM, March 11 (A.A)- Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament who pays an official visit to Israel, and accompanying parliamentary delegation met on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Addressing the meeting, Netanyahu described nucleer missiles and terrorism as the biggest problems of the Middle East. Meanwhile Netanyahu has offered Turkey to make joint business in the Turkish Republics in the Central Asia. Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting that lasted for half an hour, Cetin quoted Netanyahu as saying that Turkey and Israel are the two democratic and developing countries in the region. Cetin stressed that cooperation between Turkey and Israel can create great opportunities for the third countries. Pointing out that they aim at increasing the current trade volume which is about 800 million U.S. dollars, up to 2 billion U.S. dollars in coming years, Cetin told the reporters that Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to visit Turkey after the general elections in Israel on May 17, 1999. Noting that allegations claiming that Israeli officials held contacts with the so-called representatives of the terrorist organization in the wake of the demonstration of supporters of Abdullah Ocalan, the terrorist chief, in front of the Israeli Consulate General in Berlin, Germany, were also brought to agenda, Cetin pointed out that Netanyahu denied such allegations. Cetin added that Israel supports the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project and natural gas pipeline projects. [21] THE LATEST SITUATION IN STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM - THE OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF: ''TERRORISM IS TAKEN UNDER CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO A GREAT EXTENT'' - ''THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY WILL BREAK THE FOREIGN SUPPORT CIRCLE WHICH AIDS TERRORISM, AND WILL TOTALLY ANNIHILATE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK''ANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - Terrorism is taken under control to a great extent throughout the country, and the Republic of Turkey will break the foreign support circle which aids terrorism, and totally annihilate the terrorist organization PKK, the Office of the Chief of General Staff said on Thursday.Concerning ''the aim of the terrorist organization PKK, its activities, and latest situation in struggle against terrorism,'' the Office of the Chief of General Staff said, the security forces of the state continue their struggle against the terrorist organization PKK successfully with the support of people, and especially with the support of citizens which the terrorist organization defined as ''Kurdish''. Stressing that Turkish Armed Forces continue its struggle against terrorism and terrorists with great belief and determination within the framework of ''democratic law principles'' and respecting human rights ''at a level higher than the international standards'' successfully, the Office of the Chief of General Staff said: ''-Following the successful struggle carried out both in Turkey and in Northern Iraq, the armed activities of the terrorist organization is taken under control to a great extent. -The possibilities for the chief of terrorist organization to take shelter abroad have been removed; the head of the terrorist organization have been brought to Turkey by a special operation organized by Turkey; and he will be given the punishment he deserves by the independent Turkish justice. -As long as this determination of Turkish nation continues, it is not possible for the terrorist organization to continue to shed blood.'' Stating that the developments after the head of the terrorist organization left Syria and was caught, clearly revealed the dimensions of foreign support given by various countries to this organization, the Office of Chief of General Staff stressed that it is very important to dry out the domestic and foreign sources feeding terrorism along with armed struggle. The Office of the Chief of General Staff said: ''-Everybody is equal and first class citizen in Turkey. No citizen of ours is a minority except the minorities accepted in the international agreements. -The Republic of Turkey protects its lands, citizens, and borders against terrorism, and she does this with the legal forces of the state. -Turkish Armed Forces, gained a great success against terrorism as a result of the operation it continued decisively here and abroad, and terrorism has been taken under control to a great extent throughout the country. -The Republic of Turkey will take every additional measure to provide peace and security in the East and Southeast Anatolia, and she will break the foreign support circle which aids terrorism and she will totally destroy the terrorist organization PKK. Because, -The Republic of Turkey is a uniter state. It is an undivisible whole with her country and nation. This undivisible whole cannot be put under discussion. -The official language, flag, symbols, and borders of the state, the sovereignty rights of the Republic of Turkey, her secular and democratic order, are beyond and outside of any discussion. -The protection of Turkey's unitary structure, and unity without giving any concession to any person, any group, or any state, is the essence. -The essence of our unitary state is one nation, one homeland, one state, one language, and one flag.'' [22] CETIN PAYS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO PALESTINERAMALLAH, March 11 (A.A) - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament who pays an official visit to Israel, and accompanying parliamentary delegation proceeded to Palestine on Thursday and came together with Ahmet Gueri, the Chairman of the Legislation Council of Palestine Autonomous Administration, in Ramallah.Addressing the meeting, Cetin said that Turkey has been supporting the case of Palestinians from the very beginning, and stressed, ''We will recognize the independent Palestine state as soon as it is declared.'' Cetin noted that the Middle East needs peace more than anything, and reminded that relations between Turkey and Israel have begun to improve only after the peace process. Stressing the importance of the reciprocal contacts between Turkey and Palestine, Cetin emphasized that Palestinian officials should inform Turkey continuously about the latest developments. Cetin also added that Turkey is ready to provide economic and social aid to Palestine, pointing out, ''when the independent Palestine state is declared, the region will have one more modern, democratic and secular state.'' Ahmet Gurei said in his part that Cetin's visit to Palestine has coincided to a very critical period, accusing Israel of violating the main principles of the peace accord. Reminding that 4 May 1999 is the end of the transition period, Gurei stressed that as a result of Israel's attitude, the peace accord cannot be concluded. He continued, ''we hope our friends in Ankara will support us and the independent Palestine state.'' Cetin will proceed to Tel-Aviv later today and hold talks with Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Foreign Minister. [23] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS A LETTER TO HIS PALESTINIAN COUNTERPART ARAFAT AND EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DEMONSTRATIONS HELD IN PALESTINE IN FAVOUR OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONJERUSALEM, March 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel sent a letter on Thursday to his Palestinian counterpart Yasser Arafat through the Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem, and expressed concern over the demonstrations held in Palestine in favuor of the terrorist organization PKK.Meanwhile Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament who pays an official visit to Israel, came together with Ahmet Queri, the Chairman of the Legislation Council of Palestine Autonomous Administration, in Ramallah, and stressed that participation of several officials to such demonstrations created deep regret among the Turkish people. Several officials from the Fatah movement headed by Yasser Arafat, were in attendance at the demonstrations held in Palestine in the wake of the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of terrorist organization PKK, in Kenya lost month. [24] TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN ROMANIA - PRESIDENT DEMIREL ASKS ROMANIA AND BULGARIA TO PROHIBIT THE ACTIVITIES OF TERRORIST PKKSINAIA, March 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel, who is currently in Romania to participate in the tripartite summit among Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, asked on Thursday Romania and Bulgaria to prohibit all the activities of the terrorist organization PKK and to officially recognize this organization as a terrorist one.Hinting at Greece, President Demirel told his Bulgarian and Romanian counterparts that ''one of our neighbours made a mistake by allowing the activities of the terrorist organization in her territory and now she is paying its price, you should do what is correct.'' Addressing a statement about the first-round meetings of the tripartite summit which concluded the same day, Sermet Atacanlı, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman said that President Demirel brought the issue of the terrorist organization PKK to the agenda, noting Turkey suffered a lot from terrorism, but she gained an important success in her struggle by the capture of the chief terrorist. ''President Demirel said that Turkey is ready to cooperate with Bulgaria and Romania in the struggle with the terrorist organization PKK, adding it is known that the terrorist organization uses neigbouring countries as a transit way and it illegally collects money from Turkish businesmen in Bulgaria and Romania and this has to be prevented,'' said Atacanlı. Meanwhile, the three countries signed a cooperation agreement in tourism which foresees changes in the laws of the countries to improve reciprocal opportunities of investments in tourism, exchange of information about diversifying tourism and further improvement of cooperation in this field. At the summit, the three presidents also signed a joint declaration which foresees establishment of free trade zones among three countries and abolishment of customs duties on industrial products till 2002. President Demirel will come together with Stoyanov, the Bulgarian President and Constantinescu, the Romanian President the same evening. The tripartite summit will end by the joint declaration that will be published and the joint press briefing that will be held on Friday. [25] EXPLOSIONS IN ISTANBUL - HAND-MADE, FRAGMENTATION AND TIME BOMBS USED IN BLASTS IN ISTANBUL - 20 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODYISTANBUL, March 11 (A.A) - Hand-made bombs, fragmentation bombs and time- bombs were used in the blasts that occured in front of shopping centres namely ''Carousel and Atrium'' in Bakırkoy district of Istanbul on Wednesday, it is reported on Thursday.The items taken from the places where explosions took place were examined by the Laboratory of the Criminal Department of Directorate General of Security in Istanbul. Operations are underway to capture the three people who were identified and who are believed to take part in the attacks which caused the death of one person and injured eight others. Meanwhile 20 suspects were taken into custody in connection with the blasts. [26] TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN ROMANIA - CONSTANTINESCU, ROMANIAN PRESIDENT: ''NEWS CLAIMING THAT WE EXTEND SUPPORT TO PKK IS WRONG''SINAIA, March 11 (A.A) - Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President said on Thursday that the news published in Turkish press claiming that the Romanian administration extends support to the terrorist organization PKK is wrong.The second-round meetings of the tripartite summit held among Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria finished the same day. The Kosovo problem and the candidacy of Romania and Bulgaria to NATO were taken up at the second-round meetings. Addressing the meeting, Emil Constantinescu referred to the terrorist organization and said that he is very sorry about the rumours saying that Romania supports the elements of the terrorist organization. ''These claims are not true, especially after I was elected as the President, I took all kinds of steps for the elimination of the PKK from Romania,'' said Emil Constantinescu, adding that some supporters of the terrorist PKK attempted to hold a demonstration against the Turkish Embassy in Romania a short time ago and this was prevented. ''If the Romanian police obtains sufficient information and complaints about the pressure on Turkish businessmen in Romania, the necessary things will be done,'' he added. The tripartite summit will end by the joint declaration that will be published and the joint press briefing that will be held on Friday. [27] TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN ROMANIA - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE RESOLVED TO EXTEND FULL SUPPORT TO ANY INITIATIVE THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO REGIONAL PEACE''SINAIA, March 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel who is currently in Romania said on Thursday that Turkey is resolved to extend full support to any initiative that will contribute to regional peace and stability, common prosperity and security of the people living in the region.Addressing the official dinner held within the framework of the tripartite meeting among Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, President Demirel stated that the tripartite summit started three years ago and the agreements signed on the struggle with terrorism and organized crime, on free trade and on tourism were the concrete outcomes of the cooperation among these three countries. ''Kosovo problem continues to be our common concern and we invite the Yugoslavian administrators to act by common sense. The fire on Kosovo affects all of us and we have the historical obligation to serve the peace in Kosovo,'' said President Demirel, adding that another important agenda of the meeting is NATO's summit in Washington D.C. and NATO can't fully install security and stability in the Balkans without Bugaria and Romania. ''I would like to stress once again that Romania and Bulgaria will be the members of NATO in the near future,'' said President Demirel, noting that ''we have to mutually take all kinds of measures that will prevent terrorist and organized crime groups to find shelter in the Balkans within the framework of our agreement on struggle with terrorism and organized crime, which we put into force,'' said President Demirel. Noting that one of the aims of the tripartite summit is to strengthen the economic cooperation, President Demirel said that the cooperation among these three countries will contribute to realization of the ideal of a unified, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Europe. [28] TURKEY-TRNC - JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE TO CONVENE IN GIRNE ON FRIDAYLEFKOSA, March 11 (A.A) - The Joint Economic Committee which is a sub- working group of the Joint Committee formed between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will convene in Girne on Friday, it is reported on Thursday.The delegation headed by Fusun Koroglu, the Prime Ministry Deputy Undersecretary arrived in TRNC on Thursday to participate in the committee studies. TRNC President Rauf Denktas received the delegation and pointed out to the importance of contacts and meetings between Turkey and the TRNC, adding they want to see the protocols between the two countries as being implemented and abided. Noting that the Greek Cypriot side says she is on the way to integration with Greece by 100 percent, Rauf Denktas stressed that this means sealing their unification by the way of the European Union (EU) and lifting the rights of Turkey on Cyprus. [29] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE ARE AGAINST STATE SECURITY COURTS FOR A LONG TIME''ANKARA, March 11 (A.A) - Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said on Thursday that his party has been against the state security courts for a long time, adding a change has to be made in these courts by taking into account the reactions in the world.Responding to questions in a private television channel, Premier Ecevit said that some western circles think that these courts can't be regarded as independent because they have military members, adding he does not agree with it. ''The military judges in these courts have always behaved justly, moreover the decisions of the state security courts can be appealed,'' said Premier. Noting that there has to be a change in these courts, Ecevit said after the elections, a draft law on the change of the Constitution about the issue can come to the agenda of the parliament. ''Is there a pressure about the chief terrorist from the west,'' asked the journalist to Ecevit, who replied by saying that ''no, but there are some unjust doubts.'' Pointing out that there are doubts that ''Abdullah Ocalan, the suspect, can't be tried objectively and he is tortured,'' Bulent Ecevit said this are not true, recalling the words of lawyer of Ocalan who said after meeting with Abdullah Ocalan that his client's health was quiet fine. ''A great unjust is made against Turkey in this issue, the independence of our justice is a undeniable truth. In this respect doubts about this issue will be proven to be invalid soon,'' said Premier Ecevit, adding a delegation from the Council of Europe came to Turkey, made inquiries and could not find anything to object about the issue. A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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