Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-05-16

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

AA Daily

16 May 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] EFFORTS TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT - PREMIER ECEVIT TO ASK FOR APPOINTMENTS FROM POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS

[03] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS, 44.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED TO EU COUNTRIES

[04] TURK, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: - ''GREECE WANTS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS BY CREATING DE FACTO SITUATION IN THE AEGEAN SEA WHILE SHE DOES NOT ACCEDE TO PEACE''

[05] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM RED CRESCENT TO GEORGIA

[06] ELECTION OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKER - THIRD ROUND OF VOTING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY

[07] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO INVITE NEW TURKISH PREMIER

[08] ELECTRICITY EXPORT FROM BULGARIA TO TURKEY - TEAS AND BULGARIAN ELECTRICITY INSTITUTION SIGN AN AGREEMENT

[09] TOURISM MINISTER TAN: - ''KOSOVO CRISIS HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED GREEK AND CROATIAN TOURISMS''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The statements of Mrs. Ecevit dropped like a bomb in the MHP circle while Mr. Ecevit is on the eve of coalition talks with Devlet Bahceli of the MHP. Bahceli called the DSP to make explanation, but later invited the DSP to apolagize to them when the expected explanation wasn't made by the DSP.

What did Mrs. Ecevit say?:

''Many people and I have serious concerns in coalition with the MHP. Showing their colours is the condition for removing the concerns.''

''They said they came into existence from a female wolf and a Turk, and will protect the last Turkish state. They put pressure on children and young people and gave them arms.''

''They said 'you'll die if you don't join us'. They claimed many lives for years. They embraced gangs. Can these be forgotten?''

''Those who are trying to make politics with use of force, can't be defined as a political party. And national integrity, secularism and democracy will be harmed if exploitation of religion is included into this.''

''Some circles say they were changed. In which side do we believe, in this circle or the people who say, 'no, we were not changed'?''

AND MERVE IS NO LONGER A TURKISH CITIZEN
Merve Kavakci, a Virtue Party (FP) deputy whose U.S. citizenship was revealed, lost her Turkish citizenship yesterday. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced that the Council of Ministers' decree on denaturalization of Kavakci was signed by President Suleyman Demirel.

Ecevit said Kavakci lost her Turkish citizensip in accordance with the Citizenship Law as she applied to another country for citizenship without getting permission from Turkey.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The sheets are being kept under protection of police and gendarmerie. Bomb- check will be carried out at the buildings where those sheets are kept and measures will be taken.

SUSPECT TAKEN AWAY
The photograph of the suspect, who killed a high-school student in Elbistan, was sent to Malatya by a bus.

However, the driver, who is a relative of the suspect, lost the photograph.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MISSILE CLAIMS FOUR CHILDREN
Four brothers, who were toying in their house with a missile they found at a military dump in eastern Erzurum province, were killed when the missile detonated.

The father and a sister of these children were seriously injured.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

In accordance with the rules and articles of the Lausanne Treaty and protocol, which was signed between Turkey and Greece on December 28, 1932, the sovereignty of Turkey, which is the successor of the Ottoman Empire, over the Platia Island, whose situation is similar to the Kardak rocklets, continues.

Noting that the Platia islet belongs to Turkey, President Suleyman Demirel stressed, ''I hope Greece will abstain from an unneccessary crisis.''

ANKARA DETERMINED IN BAF BASE ISSUE
Turkey announced that she will not allow the use the Baf military base set up on southern part of Cyprus by Greek warplanes.

Stressing that the time to reach Turkey from that military base will be only two minutes for the warplanes to be deployed at that base, military officials said in case of such an occasion, all of the military and strategical targets in the souhtern Anatolia will face threat.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT:''MY PREFERENCE IS A COALITION WITH MHP''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) who was designated to form the new government, visited President Suleyman Demirel to give information about his efforts to form the new government. Ecevit said ''my preference is a coalition among the DSP, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Motherland Party (ANAP).'' He said that he will visit on May 17 Devlet Bahceli of the MHP and Mesut Yilmaz of the ANAP to convey his coalition proposal.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

TURKISH DAY IN THE U.S.
The 18th traditional Turkish Day March was held in New York, the U.S., with splendid celebrations. New York was decorated with Turkish flags. The Janissary Band's performance charmed both Turkish and American people.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

EROGLU WINS BRONZE MEDAL
Seref Eroglu competing in the 63 kg categories in the 46th European Men's Graeco-Roman Style Westling Championships, won bronze medal.

[02] EFFORTS TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT - PREMIER ECEVIT TO ASK FOR APPOINTMENTS FROM POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS

The DSP parliamentary group will convene at 11.00 local time the same day while the DSP Assembly meeting is scheduled to start at 16:00 local time the same day.

Ecevit will brief his party members on his efforts to form the new government, and ask for authorization in accordance with the party regulations.

Bulent Ecevit is expected to come together with Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Part (MHP) and Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) on Monday.

[03] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS, 44.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED TO EU COUNTRIES

In the same period last year, the region exported 34 million 383 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural and animal products.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that in the first four months of the year, they exported 36 million 730 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 774 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 6 million 4 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits and 738 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock.

Cikmaz added, ''the Turkish goods in greatest demand are dried apricot, cotton thread, synthetic thread, plastic sack, pistachio, textile products, chocolate, biscuit and macaroni.''

[04] TURK, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: - ''GREECE WANTS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS BY CREATING DE FACTO SITUATION IN THE AEGEAN SEA WHILE SHE DOES NOT ACCEDE TO PEACE''

Speaking to reporters at the Trabzon Airport, Turk said Turkey will never accept Greece's de facto movements, emphasizing, ''she won't accept also this time. We'll do what is necessary.''

Regarding statements of Rahsan Ecevit, deputy leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the wife of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, National Defense Minister said, ''those statements were about the incidents in the past. Now, we're expending efforts to provide concordance. Anyway, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will prevent the incidents which may again bring into agenda these concerns remaining from the past.''

Responding to a question about MHP's attitude against headscarf issue, Turk said, ''The MHP expressed its most clear approach by the attitude of Nesrin Unal, a MHP deputy. The MHP has put forward an attitude only against the issue of freedom of clothing for students at universities and other education institutions. However, we don't think that they will insist on their attitude.''

[05] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM RED CRESCENT TO GEORGIA

The Directorate of Red Crescent issued a statement saying that the aid includes 38 tonnes of flour, 38 tonnes of sugar, 36 tonnes of rice, 12 tonnes of vegetal oil, 1,000 blankets, 100 beds, 200 tables and 750 chairs.

Five trucks carrying the first portion of the humanitarian aid have set out from Ankara on Saturday.

The aid will be delivered to officials at the Local Office of Refugees and Settlement Ministry in Zugdidi.

The Red Crescent had sent humanitarian aids to Georgia 12 times between 1991 and 1998.

[06] ELECTION OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKER - THIRD ROUND OF VOTING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY

Sadi Somuncuoglu, Aksaray Deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Uluc Gurkan, Ankara Deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Nevzat Yalcintas, Istanbul Deputy of the Virtue Party (FP); Yildirim Akbulut, Ankara Deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and Ahmet Iyimaya, Amasya deputy of the True Path Party (DYP), could not reach required 367 votes at the first and second round votings which were held on May 12.

The third round voting will be held on May 18.

The absolute majority (276) of the total number of deputies is required in the third round.

If the absolute majority cannot be reached, two of the candidates who receive the highest votes, will attend the fourth round that will take place on May 20.

In the fourth round voting, the candidate who wins the highest vote, will become the new speaker of the parliament.

[07] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO INVITE NEW TURKISH PREMIER

Sources close to the U.S. administration recalled that President Clinton held its previous talk with a Turkish Premier 18 months ago, adding, ''improvement of cooperation issues between Turkey and the U.S. which have very important relations, in a meeting between the leaders of these two countries is to the benefit of the two sides.''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, a source said, ''at the meeting between President Clinton and then Premier Mesut Yilmaz in December 1997, the next meeting between them was planned to take place one year later. However, that opinion wasn't realized as the government in Turkey was collapsed. Now, a meeting between our president and your premier will be useful, even it will be held after a delay. We believe there a lot of thing to discuss.''

Sources said the meeting in Washington D.C. can be held in time appropriate to the programmes of the two leader for coming months.

Meanwhile, the U.S. administration didn't make an official statement regarding efforts to from a government as it is Turkey's internal issue while the observers in Washington D.C. Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) is close to form the new Turkish government.

Turkey's relations with the U.S. are expected to be intensified when the new Turkish government is formed.

The U.S. side is planning to carry out a more closer work on especially energy and regional cooperation issues with a Turkish government which has a powerful support at the parliament.

Within this framework, the joint initiatives for the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline are expected to be intensified. The U.S. administration officials said they expect the new Turkish government to take some steps in the Cyprus and human rights issues.

American sources said the meeting between the U.S. President and the new Turkish Prime Minister was foreseen to cover also these issues and the Turkish-Greek relations.

[08] ELECTRICITY EXPORT FROM BULGARIA TO TURKEY - TEAS AND BULGARIAN ELECTRICITY INSTITUTION SIGN AN AGREEMENT

Zeki Koseoglu, the Director General of the TEAS, and Konstantin Shushulov, the Director General of the NEK, signed the agreement.

The agreement envisages Turkey's purchasing of a total of 37.4 billion kwh of electricity from Bulgaria for eight years.

The negotiations between the TEAS and the NEK had started on November 8, 1998.

Responding to questions of journalists, Koseoglu stressed that this agreement will contribute to further improvement of relations between Turkey and Bulgaria.

Koseoglu also added that the Gorna Arda project foreeseing constructions of 114-km Orizovo-Captain Andrevo motorway and of three dams in Bulgaria in return for the electricity to be purchased from Bulgaria, will be realized.

[09] TOURISM MINISTER TAN: - ''KOSOVO CRISIS HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED GREEK AND CROATIAN TOURISMS''

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Tan stressed that the problems of the tourism sector will be relieved in coming days.

Referring to the celebrations for the 2000th anniversary of Jesus Christ's birth, Tan told the A.A correspondent, ''religious belief tourism will revive the tourism in Turkey in 2000. Nearly 70 million people will travel to the most important centers of the Christianity. Turkey is rich of historical works belonged to the Christianity Judaism and Islam. Turkey will become a leading route for tourists with her natural, cultural and historical assets.''

Reminding that 15 years ago, number of foreign visitors was one million, Tan stressed that this number has increased to 10 million this year. He added, ''our target for next decade is to host 25 million foreign tourists annually. But numbers are not of that importance. The most significant thing is being a reliable, credible and prefarable country.''

When asked whether or not the war in Kosovo effected negatively the regional countries, Tan underlined, ''the most affected countries from the Kosovo crisis are Greece and Croatia. The Adriatic Coasts are still under threat of crisis. The Mediterranean Coasts, therefore, are more safe. Foreigners will prefer Turkey for holiday in coming days to this end.''

A.A

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