Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-04-25

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

AA Daily

25 April 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH AZNAR, SPANISH PM

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF SILK ROAD COUNTRIES

[04] TURKEY'S LAST MINUTE SUCCESS IN NATO - ISMAIL CEM: ''WE WOULD BE SORRY IN THE END IF WE HAD REGRESSED''

[05] ''BELIEF TOURISM PROJECT TOWARDS 3000'' - FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT, ORGANIZED BY MUJDE PUBLICATION, TO START AT APRIL 29

[06] PRESS COUNCIL IN TRNC SET UP

[07] THE MIDDLE EAST INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM - EGYPT, JORDAN AND IRAQ ARE INCLUDED IN THE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES INTERCONNECTED ENERGY SYSTEM AS WELL AS TURKEY AND SYRIA

[08] TURKISH AIRCRAFTS RETURN TO BASE WITHOUT PROBLEMS AFTER FLYING FOR 24 HOURS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) ECEVIT'S SUPRISE VISIT TO TRNC
Premier Bulent Ecevit made a big surprise which shocked Ankara, Athens and the Greek Cypriot side and went to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Ecevit told the reporters that he went to TRNC for private reasons.

TURKEY GROWS UP BY AGRICULTURE IN 1998
The agricultural sector, with a percentage of 7.6, affected the growth rate of 1998 the most. Forestry which is one of the sub-branches of agriculture recessed by 2.2 percent while farming and animal breeding, other sub- branches of agriculture, increased by 8.2 percent. The growth rate in fishing sector was realized as 5.6 percent.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

EXPLOSION IN A TURKISH BATH: 4 DIE
An explosion occured in a Turkish bath in Mediterranean Isparta province, killing four women and injuring 25 others. A technical failure led to the explosion.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

IMF DUE IN TURKEY IN JUNE
An intensive agenda is waiting for the Turkish economy delegation which is headed by Hikmet Ulugbay, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister, and which went to the U.S. to participate in the spring term meetings with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Yener Dincmen, the Treasury Undersecretary, drew the attention that the new government of Turkey can be bet up in May and in case its schedule is completed, the IMF delegation can come to Turkey in June.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ANAP'S SETTLING OLD SCORES ON TUESDAY
The old and new deputies of the Motherland Party (ANAP) who think about whether or not ANAP can continue its path with the leadership of Mesut Yilmaz, try to set up a joint power. Lutfullah Kayalar, Yozgat deputy, and Ugur Aksoz, former group deputy head, are the ones who are considered as the new leaders of the ANAP.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IS 37 YEARS OLD
Constitutional Court will celebrate its 37th anniversary on Monday.

Hikmet Cetin, the Acting President, is expected to join the celebration which will start with the opening speech of Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of Constitutional Court.

Then, a symposium named ''Constitutional Justice'' which will last for two days, will start the same day. The ''Political Parties and the Election Systems'' will be discussed in this year's symposium.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT TO THINK IN TRNC
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who went to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Saturday, said he would rest and think there. Ecevit later visited Rauf Denktas, President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Speaking before the meeting Ecevit said he would get information about the situation of Cyprus.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

TURKISH POWER IN NATO SUMMIT
Turkey put forward her power in the NATO summit in which the formation of ''European Security and Defense Identity'' (ESDI) was discussed. President Suleyman Demirel said that the ESDI should be formed within the framework of NATO and that otherwise, Turkey will oppose this formation. The final agreement foresees that the demands of the European Union (EU) from the ESCI will be decided in the NATO Council.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) TOURISM SECTOR IN RED ALARM
The tourism sector, which is facing the biggest bottleneck of the last years, considers 1999 as the lost year. The loss of exchange in Turkey until today is three billion U.S. dollars. Talha Camas, the Chairman of Turkish Union of Travelling Agencies (TURSAB), said that they consider 1999 as the lost year and that they are now thinking of the 2000 year.

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH AZNAR, SPANISH PM

Demirel and Aznar discussed the issues which interest the two countries.

Aznar said that he welcomed the decision of the Spanish Constitutional Court concerning the suspension of the convening of the so-called kurdish parliament in the Basque region of Spain.

The diplomatic sources who gave information about the meeting between Demirel and Aznar, said that Spanish government behaves very sensible when compared with that of Italy and that the Spanish government opposed the convening of the so-called Kurdish parliament from the beginning.

Later, Demirel met with Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State.

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF SILK ROAD COUNTRIES

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Romania, Moldovia and Uzbekistan joined the meeting in the level of presidents while Turkmenistan, Kyrygzistan and Armenia attended in the level of foreign ministers.

Demirel said that the line on which the countries that are named ''Silk Road'' has an important geopolitic position in the world, adding that Turkey has a role of a bridge between east and west on this line.

Demirel noted that the efforts to construct the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and Trans-Caucasus energy corridor which will pass through this line are underway and that this line will contribute to the regional peace and security.

[04] TURKEY'S LAST MINUTE SUCCESS IN NATO - ISMAIL CEM: ''WE WOULD BE SORRY IN THE END IF WE HAD REGRESSED''

Addressing a news conference following the end of North Atlantic Council (NATO) meeting Cem said Turkey realized most of its demands in the summit on the issue of ESDI.

Before the issuing of joint statement related with the issue, it was reported that basic difference of opinion between Turkey and other NATO countries on the issue of ESDI could not be overcome and that Ankara raised reservations to some expressions. Yet, in the last minute talks, when other NATO countries stepped back upon the determined attitude of Turkey, the problem was solved in a positive way. In the summit statement, usage of NATO facilities by ESDI was left to the permission of NATO Council, which Ankara is also a member of.

ESDI initiative was developed by European Union (EU) member countries. The initiative envisages EU's playing a greater role in NATO's defense and making use of NATO facilities are planned. Turkey, as it is not an EU member, defends that NATO should have the permission to use ESDI initiative.

Ismail Cem said Turkey overcame the opposition of other NATO countries and succeeded in the summit. Cem said:

''If EU member countries want to establish their own security organization, that is their problem. We can not oppose it. Yet, when they want to use NATO facilities, we said ''NATO member countries should be included in this issue and Turkey should also be included in this, and we made them accept it.''

Article 30 of the new Strategic Concept document, which is prepared by NATO and will be officially disclosed on Monday, says the ESDI initiative will be developed around NATO, as wanted by Turkey. Also, usage of NATO facilities by ESDI will not be authomatically but will depend on the NATO confirmation, again as wanted by Turkey.

Evaluating this Article Cem said ''it was very important for us to get this result.''

Cem said France was the country who resisted Ankara, adding that even Greece, in the very last stage, told him that ''we understand your position'', attributing to Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu.

A.A correspondent was told that in the morning talks, no approach could be reached on the issue of ESDI. This issue was the main agenda topic in the luncheon of foreign minister. As the difference of opinion continued between the sides Ismail Cem said Turkey would not support the existing position of the text. A diplomatic source said ''we have officially said that Turkey would not confirm Article 4.8.9 and 10 of the document related with ESDI.'' Meanwhile, Solana, NATO Secretary General had staged a news conference and said ESDI initiative was officially formed but that Turkey continued its opposition to some aspects.

Yet, there was a great surprise in the very last minute and other NATO member countries accepted Turkey's position and the result Turkey desired gained at midnight in local time.

[05] ''BELIEF TOURISM PROJECT TOWARDS 3000'' - FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT, ORGANIZED BY MUJDE PUBLICATION, TO START AT APRIL 29

Mustafa Efe, General Director of Mujde Publication, addressing a meeting staged in Princess Hotel, spoke about the project and said with the project they aimed to promote the religious places that are on holy Anatolian territories, adding they will stage belief tours to Antalya-Perga and Isparta-Yalvac, which are important centers of Christianity, towards this aim.

Efe pointed out that with the coordination of GTI Greman Travel Agency, they cooperated with many institutions in Germany, Britain, Greece, Russia, Korea and South Africa and noted that 250 tourists will participate in the visit from these countries between April 20-30 and May 1-4.

[06] PRESS COUNCIL IN TRNC SET UP

The press council named Turkish Cypriot Press Council (KTBK) made its first meeting to which Oktay Eksi, the Chairman of the council, Kenan Akin, Tufan Turenc and Mesut Onen, the administrators of the council attended.

Ismet Kotak, the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists' Association, said that they faced some problems during the formation of the council and that they will increase the efficiency and productivity of the formation by bearing all the problems.

Stressing that the press always needs autocontrol, Kotak noted that they are away from the pressure and inspirations of the ones who run the country and that the Council carries out efforts to be independent and impartial.

Oktay Eksi said that the problems which were faced during the formation process should not be exaggerated and that not only the journalists but also the state and the institutions will adopt the council, adding that Turkey earlier experienced the same process.

[07] THE MIDDLE EAST INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM - EGYPT, JORDAN AND IRAQ ARE INCLUDED IN THE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES INTERCONNECTED ENERGY SYSTEM AS WELL AS TURKEY AND SYRIA

Syria, which is included in the system, informed Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources officials that it tendered construction of 60 km energy tranfer lines which it committed to construct in its territories.

It was reported that construction of energy transfer lines, which is planned to be constructed within this year, will be completed by a consortium composed of a Turkish and German firm and that the line will be concluded by the end of the year 2001.

Officials recalled that construction of 43 km energy transfer line between Egypt and Jordan, included within the context of system, was concluded a short while ago and that energy barters started between these countries. Officials said if the construction takes place according to the program, energy barter between Turkey and Syria will start in the year 2001.

Energy Transfer Lines, envisaged to be established between Turkey and Syria, will follow a 60 km route from Dam HES in Birecik county in southeastern Sanliurfa province and will extend to Halep city. Syria, apart from this part, will also establish several subordinate lines in her territory that will transfer energy.

''The Middle East Countries Joint Energy System'' which has been on the agenda for long years, has the quality of a very important energy corridor between Turkey, Middle East and European countries.

The energy system will contribute a lot to the economies of the countries in question and will play an important role in increasing of existing trade relations.

[08] TURKISH AIRCRAFTS RETURN TO BASE WITHOUT PROBLEMS AFTER FLYING FOR 24 HOURS

A General Staff statement said that a total of 532 sortis were realized in the NATO operation against Yugoslavia between April 24 and 25 and that the helicopters which participated in the operation for the first time realized 31 sortis on the same days; adding that all the aircrafts returned to their bases.

The statement noted that the Turkish aircrafts flew 875 hours until today.

Meanwhile, a total of 188 Kosovar refugees came to Turkey via highway and a total of 259 Kosovars entered into Turkey by planes on Sunday, increasing the number of the Kosovars who came to Turkey via highway to 6,485 and the number of the Kosovars who came to Turkey via airway and landed at the Corlu Airport to 4,528.

A total of 4,211 Kosovars were placed in the guest-house in northwestern Kirklareli province.

A total of 36 lorries which belonged to the Red Crescent and which carried humanitarian aid stuff departed from Kapikule Border Gate on Saturday evening. The humanitarian aid was worth of 896,550 U.S. dollars.

A.A

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