Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-04-16

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

AA Daily

16 April 1999 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BANDINI, ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR THE STATEMENTS OF D'ALEMA, ITALIAN PM

[03] TRNC SECURITY FORCES: ''THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AIM AT CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL TENSION AND MISLEADING THE PUBLIC OPINION''

[04] SAKIRBEY, BOSNIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN THE U.N.: - ''TURKEY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE BALKANS''

[05] TEXTILE PRODUCTS WORTH OF 76.7 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTED FROM SOUTHEAST IN THREE MONTHS

[06] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - KANAR, LAWYER OF OCALAN: ''IT IS NOT CERTAIN YET IF A HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE IN IMRALI ON APRIL 30''

[07] VURAL, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO U.N., GIVEN A UNIVERSITY CHAIRMANSHIP MEDAL IN THE U.S.

[08] TURKEY-IMF RELATIONS - COTERELLI, CHIEF OF TURKEY DESK OF IMF, SPEAKS TO A.A

[09] SECURITY FORCES TRY TO CAPTURE SIX TERRORISTS, INCLUDING THREE DISABLED, WHO WANT TO SHED BLOOD DURING APRIL 23 CELEBRATIONS

[10] EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO 300 TURKISH FIRMS

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE TO PARIS

[12] MIGRATING BIRDS COMING FROM NORTH AFRICA FLOCK TO KAYSERI'S SULTANSAZLIGI BIRD PARADISE

[13] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE 639 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

[14] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF MONOPOLIES GETTING READY TO HAND OVER MANAGEMENT OF SALT FLATS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

[15] KOSOVAR REFUGEES CONTINUE RECEIVING AID FROM ALL AROUND TURKEY

[16] CHILDREN FROM 28 COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE 23 APRIL CHILDREN FESTIVAL

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) NATO MEDAL TO TURKISH HEROS
NATO will give ''High Success'' medals to 22 Turkish pilots who completed their mission in Yugoslavia with success and returned to Turkey. General Wesley Clark ratified giving medals to Turkish pilots who not only protected the tankers and AWACS but also rendered the MIG-29s ineffective on the demand of Javier Solana, the Secretary General of NATO.

FM NOTE TO D'ALEMA
Massimiliano Bandini, the Italian Ambassador to Turkey, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for the statements of Massimo D'Alema, the Italian Prime Minister, concerning Turkey. The Foreign Ministry gave a note to Bandini by expressing its reaction against the words of D'Alema. A Foreign Ministry statement said that D'Alema issued ''meaningless'' statements concerning Turkey in the speech he made in the Italian parliament the day before, adding that with these statements, D'Alema showed that he is insistent on not understanding the realities about Turkey. The statement noted that the present Italian government has continuously made wrong behaviours in its relations with Turkey since it came to power.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

THY INCREASES ITS FLIGHT PRICES
Turkish Airlines (THY) said that it will increase its domestic flight prices by five to six and a half percent as of May 1, 1999. Thus, two-way ticket from Ankara to Istanbul will cost 52 million Turkish liras which is equal to the minimum wage in Turkey.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKEY HIRES TWO MILITARY AIRCRAFTS TO JORDAN
Turkey hired two military aircrafts to Jordanian Air Forces. General Ilhan Kilic, the Air Forces Commander, said that Turkey and Jordan are two countries which attribute importance to the peace of Middle East, adding that improving the present relations between the two countries carries importance within the framework of Middle East Peace process.

TURKISH SPORTSMEN WIN TWO GOLD, TWO SILVER AND TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN
EUROPEAN CUP LASER CLASS RACES IN FRANCE
Turkish sportsmen won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the European Cup Laser Class Yatching Races which is held in France, it was reported on Thursday.

Yatching Federation said in a statement that six Turkish sportsmen won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals in two different categories, including laser 4.7 class and Laser Radyal class.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

CRISIS DECREASES IMPORTS
The imports in January 1999 decreased 29.9 percent to 2.1 billion U.S. dollars when compared with the figures of the same month in 1998. The monthly amount of imports have never dropped under three billion Turkish liras in 1997 and 1998.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

THUNDERBOLT STRIKES IN USAK PROVINCE OF AEGEAN SEA, KILLING TWO
A thunderbolt stroke on a tree in Usak province of the Aegean Sea on Thursday, killing two people. Thirteen women who were picking up vegetables from a field in Ulubey county of Usak province sheltered under a tree not to get wet due to the heavy rain. Then, a thunderbolt stroke on the tree under which two women sheltered, killing the both.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] BANDINI, ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR THE STATEMENTS OF D'ALEMA, ITALIAN PM

A Foreign Ministry statement said that D'Alema issued ''meaningless'' statements concerning Turkey in the speech he made in the Italian parliament the day before, adding that by these statements, D'Alema showed that he is insistent on not understanding the realities about Turkey.

The statement noted that the present Italian government has continuously assumed wrong behaviours in its relations with Turkey since it came to power.

Noting that it is obvious that the statements of D'Alema issued earlier and which arise from information gap cannot help turning the Turkish-Italian relations into its normal flow, the statement pointed out that Bandini was summoned to the Ministry to thıs end and that D'Alema's speech was protested.

The statement stressed that the Ministry emphasized Bandini that ''the expressions which contradict with the truth can never be accepted.''

D'Alema had made a connection between Kosovo and the southeast of Turkey in the speech concerning the air operation against Yugoslavia he made in the parliament the day before.

[03] TRNC SECURITY FORCES: ''THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AIM AT CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL TENSION AND MISLEADING THE PUBLIC OPINION''

A TRNC Security Forces Press Centre statement said that the Greek radio and television channels issued news reports claiming that a Turkish soldier violated the buffer zone in the mentioned region. The statement said the news report also claimed that the Greek Cypriot soldier opened fire on him and that they protested this issue to the United Nations (U.N) Peace Forces. The statement went on as saying that the news reports are not correct and that they aim at creating artificial tension.

Stating that the officials of U.N. Peace Forces carried out investigations about these allegations, the statement noted, ''U.N. Peace Force officials said that they could not find any evidence that the buffer zone and the territory of the Greek Cypriot side was violated and that the Greek Cypriot soldier who opened fire gave different testimonies which conflicted with his former testimonies.''

''The U.N. officials added that as a result, the officials said that the Greek Cypriot territory was not violated by the Turks as was claimed and that the Greek Cypriots tried to find a reason for opening fire to the Turkish soldier by creating a scenario. The officials stressed that all these issues will be stated in the report concerning the incident,'', the statement pointed out.

TRNC authorities also protested this behaviour of the Greek Cypriots in the UN Peace Force.

[04] SAKIRBEY, BOSNIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN THE U.N.: - ''TURKEY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE BALKANS''

Addressing a joint statement with Bianca Jagger, a human rights defender, Sakirbey noted that Turkey, which is a member of NATO, plays the most important role in Kosovo issue nowadays.

Sakirbey said, ''Turkey has a very important historical role in the region and this role is not less important than that of the other countries which claim that they are effective in the region. To this end, Turkey should never feel herself isolated.''

Stating that he fears that NATO will be affected by unfounded criticisms, Sakirbey stressed that if NATO loses in Kosova issue, Bosnia-Herzegovina and all the region will suffer from its results.

[05] TEXTILE PRODUCTS WORTH OF 76.7 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTED FROM SOUTHEAST IN THREE MONTHS

Southeastern Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Union said that thread worth of 44.1 million U.S dollars, weaving worth of 29.9 million U.S. dollars and various products worth of 2.6 million U.S. dollars were exported from the region in January-March 1999 period.

Turkey realized textile products to Syria, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Jordan, Spain, France, Lebanon, the U.S., Portugal, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzistan, Uzbekistan, Romania, Azerbaijan, Iran, Britain, Algeria, Greece and Russia.

[06] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - KANAR, LAWYER OF OCALAN: ''IT IS NOT CERTAIN YET IF A HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE IN IMRALI ON APRIL 30''

Hasip Kaplan, Mahmut Sakar, Ercan Kanar and Aysel Tugluk, the lawyers, who had left for Imrali Island to meet with the terrorist chief, returned to Mudanya.

A group of citizens protested the lawyers in their return from the Island.

Speaking to journalists Kanar said terrorist chief was still in the jail and claimed that newspaper, book, magazine and radio were not given to him. He also defended that the meeting with their client took place under very strict measures. Kanar said the problems and their demands regarding the defense of the terrorist chief will be conveyed to Prime Ministry next week verbally.

Responding to a question of a journalist if Ocalan's hearing on April 30 will take place in Imrali Island, Kanar said the indictment related with the case was not prepared yet and claimed that required facilities were not given to them to make preparations.

Kanar said they were not of the opinion that the hearing on April 30 will take place in Imrali under these conditions.

Kanar also noted that Fatma Ocalan, sister of Ocalan, came to Mudanya on Thursday morning but that she was not allowed to go to the island.

[07] VURAL, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO U.N., GIVEN A UNIVERSITY CHAIRMANSHIP MEDAL IN THE U.S.

Addressing a speech in the university, Vural expressed his ideas about the future of the Middle East, the regional stability and development.

Underlining that the Arab-Israeli dispute should be solved and Iraq should be re-gained to the international community for the sake of the future of the region, Vural drew the attention that the Middle East faces an identity problem and emphasized that embracing the Islamic identity is not the solution, but that directing to the secular and democratic system will be the best solution.

Paul Simons, Head of Middle East Affairs Unit of the U.S. State Secretariat, A. Al Sayed, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., and many other officials attended the ceremony.

[08] TURKEY-IMF RELATIONS - COTERELLI, CHIEF OF TURKEY DESK OF IMF, SPEAKS TO A.A

Speakıng to A.A correspondent, Coterelli noted that IMF also wants a financial support agreement with Turkey.

Coterelli stated that the possible agreement with Turkey will cover the economic programme and the financial support issue, adding that the IMF and the new Turkish government firstly should discuss the structural reforms and financial measures which can be implemented in Turkey in details.

Stating that the social security reform, banking reform, agricultural reform which will arrange the agricultural subsidies and privatization which is being discussed in Turkey for a long time should be implemented as soon as possible, Coterelli stressed that they hope that the government which will be set up after the elections will realize these structural reforms.

Coterelli pointed out that they will meet with the Turkish economic delegation which will visit Washington D.C. in the end of this month.

[09] SECURITY FORCES TRY TO CAPTURE SIX TERRORISTS, INCLUDING THREE DISABLED, WHO WANT TO SHED BLOOD DURING APRIL 23 CELEBRATIONS

The Directorate General of Police Organization warned the security units of all the cities in Turkey and requested that they should be sensitive about these six terrorists who were revealed to stage suicide attacks on April 23, 1999.

The terrorists who were captured in the lastest operations, confessed in their interrogations some of the code names and features of the alive bombs.

Then, the security officials noted that five of the terrorists were women with some definite disabilities.

[10] EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO 300 TURKISH FIRMS

The EU Commission supported the project with 600 thousand Euros. The Economic Development Foundation (IKV) is reponsible for the organization of the project in Turkey and will hold its first meeting in istanbul on November 25 and 29, 1999 for firms which work in furniture, paper, and forestry sectors. Those who want to be among the 100 firms which will attend the meeting must apply to IKV before April 30, 1999.

Two more meetings will be held in April and September, 2000. The first meeting will be for firms which are active in glass, ceramic, cement, stone and earth products and related machines sectors. The meeting in September, on the other hand, will be organized for electronical and related equipments sector.

The 100 Turkish firms will be elected by a council formed by representatives of the public and private sector.

Catalogues in English, French, German and italian will be printed to promote the three organizations and include the necessary information for the cooperations. A web page will be prepared carrying similar information.

The Turkish firms will be promoted to the EU firms through their catalogues to the firms of the EU countries. After the promotion, the foreign firms which are interested in contacting the Turkish firms will be determined and appointments will be set up between the matching firms.

During the meetings, Turkish and European firms will have the chance to discuss business, technical and financial issues as well as to attend seminars on Turkish economy and investment opportunities in Turkey.

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE TO PARIS

The exhibition will be opened on May 5 with the participation of President Demirel and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac, and will remain open until August 15.

Meanwhile President Demirel is expected to hold talks with Chirac and later to receive French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in Elysee Palace on May 4.

Nearly 300 historical works belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries which reflect scenes from artistic and intellectual life in palace and in daily life during the Ottoman Empire period, the magnificence of the Ottoman Empire, mystery of Harem, relations between the Topkapi palace and the Harem, will be displayed in the exhibition.

Within the scope of the activities for the 700th anniversary of foundation of the Ottoman Empire, the exhibition named as ''Flower and Garden in Ottoman Art'' had been opened in the Bagatelle, one of the most famous park of Paris, last month.

[12] MIGRATING BIRDS COMING FROM NORTH AFRICA FLOCK TO KAYSERI'S SULTANSAZLIGI BIRD PARADISE

There is a total of 301 bird species living at Sultansazligi Bird Paradise all throughout the year, reported Orhan Ceylan of Yahyali National Park Administration.

''90 percent of these birds are migrating birds. Every year in April, these birds come and spend the whole summer here. They incubate here in summer and then leave Sultansazligi by late September with their youngs,'' he explained.

Ceylan pointed out that they work together with State Water Works (DSI), Preservation of Natural Life Association and the Environment Provincial Directorate to preserve the water balance and prevent pollution and illegal hunting.

Last year, two thousand and 500 French, German, British and Danish scientists and students visited the bird paradise which is expected to attract more visitors this year.

[13] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE 639 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

The General Staff Martyr Journalist Hasan Tahsin Press and Information Center issued a statement saying that the Turkish F-16 war planes deployed in Ghedi, Italy, stayed in the air for 28 hours overnight.

The statement stressed that number of Kosovar people who were forced to leave their homes and have become refugees, increased up to 885 thousand 977. A total of 319 thousand of Kosovar refugees are in Albania, 122 thousand of them are in Macedonia, 66 thousand in Montenegro, 50 thousand in Serbia, 9,493 in Turkey, 6,750 in Germany, 30 thousand in Bosnia- Herzegovina and 2,634 in other countries.

Meanwhile, 5,858 Kosovar refugees have entered in Turkey from the Kapikule Border Gate, and 3,635 others have entered in Turkey from the Corlu Airport. The number of Kosovar refugees coming to Turkey has reached up to 9,493. A total of 3,386 of refugees have been provided shelters in Gaziosmanpasa camp-site.

[14] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF MONOPOLIES GETTING READY TO HAND OVER MANAGEMENT OF SALT FLATS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

Turkey's salt production last year was reported as two million 171 thousand tons while its salt consumption reached to 1 million 916 thousand tons.

Currently ten salt flats are in operation in Turkey including those at Tuz Lake, Camalti and Ayvalik. The total annual capacity of these salt flats is estimated to be two million 74 thousand tons.

Thirty percent of this production is obtained from seas while 63 percent is extracted from lakes.

Turkey's salt consumption is also increasing in parallel to the growth in its production. In 1995, one million 619 thousand tons of salt was consumed. This number raised to one million 825 thousand tons in 1996 and one million 999 thousand tons in 1997. Last year's salt consumption, on the other hand, was reported as one million 916 thousand tons.

Turkey does not import salt and its export rate is quite low. In 1998, 13 thousand tons of salt worth of 102 thousand U.S. dollars was exported to Cyprus, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, Directorate General of Monopolies, which produces salt at 20 salt flats in Turkey, is getting ready to hand over salt production to the private sector.

Following the completion of technical studies, Directoate General of Monopolies will start receiving applications from the private sector. It will respond to the applications within two months after the application date.

[15] KOSOVAR REFUGEES CONTINUE RECEIVING AID FROM ALL AROUND TURKEY

The aid sent to the guesthouse is consisted of food and cleaning stuff, clothes and various house equipments. Two ambulances, a pharmacy and a labaratory is also offering health service to the Kosovars.

Directorate General of Rural Affairs has installed 100 sofas and currently building a short road for the refugees around the guesthouse.

Several private institutions donated kitchen equipments, towels and toothbrushes.

A total of nine thousand 519 refugees have arrived in Turkey as of Friday morning.

[16] CHILDREN FROM 28 COUNTRIES TO JOIN THE 23 APRIL CHILDREN FESTIVAL

Addressing a press conference, Gurkan Elci, the Director General of the TRT Ankara Television, said that Turkey has been embracing children from all over the world for the last two decades.

Expressing satisfaction over hosting the world children in Turkey, Elci stressed, ''Last year 45 groups from 43 countries had joined the festival, but the number of countries taking part in the festival has reduced this year as a result of Kosovo crisis. The joy of 23 April has been overshadowed by the war this year.''

Meanwhile Zekeriya Kabadayi, Chairman of the Festival Organization Committee, noted that nearly 620 children from 28 countries including

Germany, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bulgaria, Algeria, Czech Republic, People's Republic of China, South

Africa, India, Kazakhstan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Macedonia, Egypt, Moldova, Nijeria, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yugoslavia, will take part in this year's festival. He noted that children will be hosted both in Ankara and in Istanbul by the Turkish families.

The children will also be received by President Suleyman Demirel, Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

A.A

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