Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-05-02

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

AA Daily

02 May 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL - OZDEMIR, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SECURITY: ''WE'VE BROADENED AND CHANGED OUR SECURITY MEASURES''

[03] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN HOPEFUL ABOUT RUSSIA

[04] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 1,074 FLIGHT HOURS

[05] MAY FESTIVAL STARTS IN NEW YORK

[06] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEY INCREASES TO 13,632

[07] 18TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL FILM FESTIVAL ENDS

[08] MODERNIZATION OF F-5 WAR PLANES

[09] GERMAN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY MORE THAN OTHER FOREIGNERS

[10] 21ST LEGISLATION PERIOD IN PARLIAMENT - NEW LEGISLATION PERIOD STARTS BY OATH-TAKING CEREMONY OF DEPUTIES

[11] RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM - A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY HELD IN ANCIENT ANTIOCHEIA CITY WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF ''SAINT PAULUS MARCH'' PROGRAMME

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) WILL WISDOM OR STUBBORNESS WIN?
The eyes of Turkis people are on the parliament today. While entering the 2000s, will wisdom or stubborness win out regarding the debate on head scarves? Meanwhile the Virtue Party (FP) held an extraordinary meeting yesterday after the National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on Friday about head scarves. The FP administration told Merve Kavakcı, from the Virtue Party (FP) that she shouldn't come to the parliament wearing head scarves. However she is supported by Necmettin Erbakarn, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP).

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS
A total of 25,000 policemen were charged yesterday during the May Day celebrations held in Istanbul where 10,000-15,000 people participated. The demonstration lasted for one hour.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

THEY'VE STOLEN GAS
The municipalities belonging to the Virtue Party (FP) gave the money they've earned from natural gas to contractors rather than Transportation Through Pipeline Company (BOTAS) before the elections. BOTAS officials said that ''the money is not paid to us yet in spite of the monthly interest rate of 14 percent.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CILLER IN PANIC
Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) is in a panic over challenges to her leadership of the True Path Party. She called the party group to a meeting in order to prevent Mehmet Agar, her rival, who is an independent deputy from Elazıg province and she complained about him to both the ministry and the governorship considering his activities.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

SAINT PAULUS ACTIVITIES
A religious ceremony will be held within the framework of the Saint Paulus March activities in Antiochia ruins in Yalvac county of Isparta province today.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKISH-JORDANIAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE STARTS
The Third Turkish-Jordanian Joint Military Exercise within the scope of the Military Training Agreement between the Turkish Armed Forces and friendly and neighbouring countries, started yesterday. A 134 member Turkish unit participate in air and ground war games which take place at a military base in Azraq, Jordan.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) LET'S HOPE FOR THE BEST
The Parliamentary General Assembly will convene later today and newly elected deputies will take oath in the ceremony. After the oath-taking ceremony, the parliamentary general council will stop working for 10 days for the determination of those who will run for candidacy in the election of the new parliament speaker.

PRESIDENT DEMIREL: YOU WILL RETURN TO YOUR HOMES
President Suleyman Demirel and President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) visited the Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Camp in Kirklareli province where the Kosovar people who were forced to leave their homes as a result of ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosovo, have been provided shelters. President Demirel told the refugees, ''You will return to your homes before next winter. We love all of you and we will do our utmost to host you.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

MESSAGE FROM ECEVIT TO YILMAZ
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), began his unofficial contacts with the political party leaders before he is given the mandate of forming the new government by President Suleyman Demirel. Ecevit sent Husamettin Ozkan, the State Minister and Deputy of the DSP, to Mesut Yilmaz, the Leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP,) for the second time. Ecevit offered Mr. Yilmaz deputy premiership and nine ministries including interior and national education ministries.

[02] MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL - OZDEMIR, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SECURITY: ''WE'VE BROADENED AND CHANGED OUR SECURITY MEASURES''

Holding an evaluation meeting after May Day celebrations held in Istanbul, Ozdemir said that 272 people were taken into custody in Istanbul until Sunday morning.

Noting that intensive measures were taken around the meeting square in Istanbul, Ozdemir said 8250 policemen, 250 gendermeries were mobilized in the square, while 25,314 security officers were mobilized throughout the province.

Hasan Ozdemir stated that six people who tried to stage an illegal demonstration in Taksim Square, were taken into custody, while two people who hided nine molotov cocktails and two oil drums in Kagıthane district were captured.

Responding to a question asking the peaceful passing off the May Day celebrations in Istanbul, Ozdemir said ''we've seen that the measures taken in the past were not sufficient. We've been working for months. We changed these measures and broadened them.''

[03] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN HOPEFUL ABOUT RUSSIA

Artukaslan told A.A correspondent that ''there is no need for Turkish businessmen to be pessimistic in Russia.''

Noting that the Turkish businessmen who didn't leave Russia during the crisis are in an advantageous position right now, Artukarslan stated that Russia evaluated well the existing Kosovo crisis by pursuing reasonable policies.

''After the eruption of the Kosovo crisis, the U.S. increased the oil prices in a considerable degree by a nice gesture. This helped Russia to overcome the crisis,'' said Artukarslan, adding the financial power of Russia is promising.

Stressing that the crisis period in Russia constitutes an important advantage for Turkish businessmen, Artukarslan said Turkish businessmen have to promote themselves better in Russian market.

Artukarslan pointed out that a new trade centre namely ''Trade Centre of Turkish Export Products in Moscow'' will be opened on May 16, 1999, adding special departments have been formed in the centre for automotive by- industry, construction and building equipment and durable goods.

[04] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 1,074 FLIGHT HOURS

The General Staff Information Center issued a statement saying that the Turkish F-16 war planes which are deployed at the Ghedi Airbase in Italy, went on 6 sorties and stayed in air for 36 hours on May 1.

Meanwhile a total of 749,475 Kosovar people were forced to leave their homes so far as a result of ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosovo. According to the latest figures, there are 12,506 refugees in Turkey; 50 thousand in Serbia; 63,300 in Montenegro; 382 thousand in Albania; 166 thousand in Macedonia; 9,974 in Germany; 45,500 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 20,195 in other countries. A total of 820 thousand Albanian people who remained in Kosovo, have also been forced to move.

A total of 12,506 Kosovar refugees have entered Turkey from Istanbul, the Tekirdag-Corlu border gate, and from the Edirne-Kapikule border gate since the beginning of NATO air operation.

A total of 5,438 Kosovars have been sheltered at Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Camp in Kirklareli.

Turkey has provided shelters for a total of 5,438 Kosovar refugees in camps in Macedonia and Albania. Both camps have the capacity to host 20 thousand refugees.

Meanwhile, a convoy of six lorries carrying humanitarian aid worth of 391 thousand U.S. dollars, left for Albania on April 30.

[05] MAY FESTIVAL STARTS IN NEW YORK

May was declared as the ''Turkish Month'' by the American-Turkish Women Solidarity Association's Youth Council.

Within the scope of the activities that will last for whole May, a Turkish film festival, a number of exhibitions and several concerts will be organized.

''Eskiya (Brigand)'', ''Town (Kasaba)'', ''Journey of a Scorpion (Akrebin Yolculuğu)'', ''Master Kill Me (Usta Beni Oldursene)'' and ''Istanbul Under My Wings (Istanbul Kanatlarımın Altinda)'' are among the Turkish films which will be shown during the film festival.

[06] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEY INCREASES TO 13,632

The Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that a total of 5,706 Kosovar refugees including 2,293 women, 2,131 men and 1,282 children have entered Turkey from the Tekirdag-Corlu Border Gate since the beginning of NATO air operation.

The statement noted that a total of 6,772 refugees including 2,406 women, 1, 774 men and 2,592 children have entered Turkey from the Edirne-Kapikule border gate and a total of 1,154 refugees including 424 women, 395 men and 335 children have entered Turkey from Istanbul.

Meanwhile a number of 5,446 Kosovars including 1,728 women, 1,548 men and 2, 170 children have been sheltered at the Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Camp in Kirklareli.

[07] 18TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL FILM FESTIVAL ENDS

In the ceremony, Jerry Schatzberg, leading U.S. film director, was given Life-Long Success Award, and Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami was given Honour Award by Sakir Eczacibasi, the Chairman of the the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation.

The Golden Tulip Prize went to ''El Viento Se Llevo Lo Que'' of Argentine film director Alejandro Agresti and the Jury Special Prize went to ''On Creatures and Human Beings (Pro Ourodov I Lioudiei)'' of Russian film director Alexei Balabanov.

Yesim Ustaoglu's ''Journey to the Sun (Gunese Yolculuk)'' won the Best Turkish Film of the Year Award of the Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi Foundation.

Ustaoglu also awarded with the Best Turkish Director Prize.

The National Contest Jury Special Prize was given to Yilmaz Arslan, the director of ''Injury (Yara)''.

The Best First Movie Award which was given by Culture Ministry for the first time, went to Serdar Akar's film namely ''On the Ship (Gemide)''.

Ustaoglu's ''Journey to the Sun (Gunese Yolculuk)'' was also awarded with the International Cinema Critic's Prize (FIPRESCI).

Festival ended with the showing of the ''Good Fortune or Coincidences (Hasard Ou Coincidences)'' of famous French film director Claude Lelouch.

[08] MODERNIZATION OF F-5 WAR PLANES

Efforts carried out under the coordination of the Undersecretariat of the Defense Industry together with Isreal regarding the modernization of F-5 war planes have come to the last stage.

The project aiming at modernization of 48 F-5 war planes of the Turkish Air Forces Commandership will be carried out by the cooperation among Israeli public institution IAI, Turkish Aviation and Space Industry Inc. (TAI) and Turkish Air Forces Commandership.

The modernization of the first four airplanes among 48, will start this year and is expected to be completed within one year at the latest.

The modernization plans of the remaining 44 planes will be carried out in the same installations.

The modernization process, which is planned to cost nearly 130 million dollars will be financed from the Defense Industry Undersecretariat Fund.

The investment is planned to be completed within five years and 70 million dollars will be paid to Israeli IAI institution for it.

Officials said that the F-5 war planes will have the equal rigging with the F-6 war planes by this project.

[09] GERMAN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY MORE THAN OTHER FOREIGNERS

According to data of the State Statistical Institute, the number of tourists coming to Turkey decreased by 4.9 percent in the first three months of this year while German visitors formed 21.9 percent of the foreign visitors.

In January-March period of this year, a total of 249,936 German tourists visited Turkey. In the meantime 117,650 Romanian tourists also prefered Turkey for holiday.

A total of 57,881 tourists from Iran; 48,126 from Russia; 47,692 from the U.S.; 45,745 from France; 40,735 from Georgia; 39,814 from Israel; 37,849 from Bulgaria and 34,949 from Britain visited Turkey within the first three months.

Number of visitors coming Turkey from the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) increased by 10.6 percent to 79,892, number of tourists from Asia rose by 5.2 percent to 163,676 and number of visitors from American continent increased by 4.5 percent to 6,221 while number of tourists coming Turkey from the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) decreased by 27.8 percent to 185,146.

[10] 21ST LEGISLATION PERIOD IN PARLIAMENT - NEW LEGISLATION PERIOD STARTS BY OATH-TAKING CEREMONY OF DEPUTIES

The General Council of the Parliament convened at 15.00 local time due to the internal bylaw of the Parliament.

Ali Rıza Septioglu a deputy from the True Path Party (DYP) preside the parliamentary session as he is the eldest deputy of the parliament.

President Suleyman Demirel was clapped by deputies when he entered the parliament hall.

Nesrin Unal, a deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) entered the parliament without wearing head scarf.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) was also clapped by deputies in his entrance to the parliament hall.

General Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Chief of General Staff, commanders of forces, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, chairmen of supreme court organs, Mehmet Nuri Yılmaz, the Director of Religious Affairs, university rectors, high ranking bureaucrats and former deputies participate in the oath-taking ceremony.

Firstly Ali Rıza Septioglu, the temporary parliament speaker took the oath, later Adnan Menderes from the Virtue Party (FP), Ekrem Pakdemirli from the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, from the DSP took the oath before other deputies due to their excuses.

The new members of the parliament take the following oath under Article 81 of the Constitution according to alphabetical order and election region:

''I swear upon my honour before the great Turkish Nation, to safeguard the existance and independence of the State, the indivisible integrity of the country and the Nation, and the absolute sovereignty of the Nation; to remain loyal to the supremacy of law, to the democratic and secular Republic and to Ataturk's principles and reforms; not to deviate from the ideal according to which everyone is entitled to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms under peace and prosperity in society, national solidarity and justice, and loyalty to the Constitution.''

[11] RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM - A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY HELD IN ANCIENT ANTIOCHEIA CITY WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF ''SAINT PAULUS MARCH'' PROGRAMME

The ceremony was held in a fent tent which was thought to be the first worship tent of the world where Saint Paulus had preached to believers.

Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Syriac participants prayed for love, peace and happiness on the earth. Calling whole humanity to peace and friendship, the guests also wished wars and hostilities to come to an end.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Dr. Mehmet Taslialan, the Director of the Yalvac Museum, noted that Saint Paulus came to Yalvac nearly 1,500 years ago, and earned his living by weawing tents.

Two symbolic marches were organized both in Antalya and in Isparta within the framework of ''Saint Paulus March'' which is considered as the beginning of the religious belief tourism activities.

A.A

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