Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-05-30

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

AA Daily

30 May 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING - COMMISSIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, BANKS LAW, BUDGET, CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AND CHANGES OF LAW

[03] SECURITY MEASURES TIGHTENED IN MUDANYA

[04] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO INVITE PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT TO WASHINGTON

[05] TURKISH AND FOREIGN JOURNALISTS CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO MUDANYA

[06] A TERRORIST FROM BEKAA TO IMRALI - ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO LAUNCHED A TERRORIST ACTIVITY WITH THE DREAM OF FORMING A SEPARATE STATE ON TURKISH TERRITORIES, BROUGHT TO TURKEY 20 YEARS AFTER HIS GOING TO LEBANON ON JULY 2, 1979

[07] A TERRORIST FROM BEKAA TO IMRALI

[08] A TOTAL OF 108 PEOPLE TO WATCH OCALAN'S TRIAL

[09] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - FAMILIES OF THE ONES WHO WERE KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS, WHO CAME TO COVER THE HEARING, BEGIN TO APPLY TO BURSA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

[10] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - THE INDICTMENT, PREPARED BY SALK, YUKSEL AND KELES, THE PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, IS COMPOSED OF SIX PARTS AND 139 PAGES

[11] EXPLOSION TAKES PLACE IN FRONT OF TRT STUDIOS IN ISTANBUL

[12] TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS - GUVENDIREN, CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH-ISRAELI BUSINESS COUNCIL: ''TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL INCREASE MORE THAN TWO BILLION U.S. DOLLARS WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS''

[13] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - ''CRISIS DESK'' ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL AGAINST PROBABLE ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND INCIDENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

GOOD NEWS ABOUT TAX FROM ECEVIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit relieved businessmen in Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) General Assembly. Prime Minister said ''Economy is in crisis. Several problems coincided with the crisis period. We will take necessary measures.'' Ecevit gave good news and said problems in taxes will be solved, budget will be ready by the end of June, banking reform will be realized, and Constititional changes will take place.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

WATERS WARMING UP IN AEGEAN
An organization called Iason, which is active in Greece, decided to hoist a 40 meter wide flag on Esek Island which is an arm away from Turkey. The act is expected to cause another tension between Turkey and Greece. The Greek Charge d'Affairs in Ankara was called to the Foreign Ministry last week and was told that this was a ''provocative'' act and asked to prevent it. Stelyo Dukas, the Chairman of Iason Associated, defended the act by saying it was to boost the morale of Adacik people who live on the edge of Greek border and added that they have been planning this for seven months. Turkey is only watching and trying to keep the tension low, it was said. It is not clear who holds the possession of Esek Island from Turkey's point of view.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT) COUNT DOWN IN OCALAN CASE
Trial of Abdullah Ocalan, terrorist chief, who was held responsible for the killings of 28.278 people between the years 1984-1999, will start following the decision of European Court of Human Rights related with State Security Courts (DGM) which said DGMs are not free. Justice Minister, Chief Prosecutor of Ankara DGM, and the chairman of delegation, in separate statements, said the hearing will certainly take place on May 31, 1999 at 10:00 local time.

PRIORITY IN THE GOVERNMENT IS THE BUDGET AND BANKS
Democratic Left Party (DSP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP), coalition will issue the budget and banks law primarily following vote of confidence. The government is getting ready to make a change in internal regulations to make the parliament work more rapidly.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

BUSINESSMEN: SOLUTIONS, NOT POLITICS, ARE NEEDED
The businessmen who attended the 54th General Council meeting of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) expressed optimism for the new government but also criticized the politicians and demanded for ''stability''. ''We need stability, we lost so much time in the last nine months,'' they said. Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel presented Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit a file of problems which expect urgent solutions and he said he will follow up on it.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

BRIGITTE BARDOT TO PROTECT STRAITS
Brigitte Bardot who used to be a sex symbol will join in an environmental protest on June 5 at the straits. Fighters of Nature Environmental Organization organized a serious of protests in the World Environment Week. One of these will take place at Turkey's straits with the slogan: ''Don't let straits be an oil route''. Bardot will first join a march between Tunel and Taksim and then participate in a boat protest where she will release a press statement.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

THE GOVERNMENT HAS A TOUGH JOB
President Suleyman Demirel, addressing the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) General Assembly, said Turkey was a country looking for stability, adding that ''we are face to face with serious conditions.'' Demirel said ''we should get rid of today's pessimistic atmosphere.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) DEMIREL GIVES HOPE
President Suleyman Demirel said formation of the government will also relieve economy. Demirel said ''political instability'' was under the economic problems of the business world. Pointing out that Turkey was searching for stability for a long time, Demirel said ''formation of the government will provide political stability.''

PROMISE FOR MORE SERVICE
Turkey, which has government problem for nine months, will search for solution to these problems with the 57th government. Council of Ministers, which convened for the first time on Saturday, determined meeting times and methods. According to this, the government will hold its weekly meeting every Friday.

[02] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING - COMMISSIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, BANKS LAW, BUDGET, CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AND CHANGES OF LAW

Sukru Sina Gurel, Minister of State and Government Spokesman, spoke to journalists following the first council of ministers meeting which lasted for half an hour.

Gurel said times of the meetings of Council of Ministers, its methods and issues related with government spokesmanship were decided during the meeting, adding that ''according to this, Council of Ministers will hold a weekly meeting in every Friday at 10:00 local time.''

Gurel said one minister from each three parties were brought to Government spokesmanship, noting that he will attend from the Democratic Left Party, Tunca Toskay, Minister of State from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, Minister of State from the Motherland Party (ANAP), and will carry out this duty. Gurel said a commission was also established to prepare government program.

Gurel said the date in which government program will be read out will also be determined when the commission finishes its preparations, and pointed out that Hikmet Ulugbay, Tunca Toskay, Sadi Somuncuoglu and Mehmet Kececiler, Minister of State, Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Nami Cagan, Minister of Foresty will also be included in the commission.

Gurel also said ''again at the meeting, commissions were foreseen to be established to hold studies on the issue of legal arrangements and Constitutional changes. Among these are change in Banks Law or issuing a Banks Law, and change in rule of Constitution related with the structure of State Security Courts.''

Gurel said the date in which government program will be read out in the Parliament will be determined according to the conclusion of the studies of the commission. He said ''of course, as you know, it has a constitutional period. It should be done in seven days. Thus, our first study will be to determine the program.''

Noting that budget was also on the agenda and that studies on the issue will be speeded up, Gurel said ''this will not take place as preparing a new budget but to make necessary changes on the existing budget that can be submitted to the Parliament.'' Gurel said the studies will be concluded urgently.

Responding to the questions of reporters Gurel said Hikmet Sami Turk, Minister of Justice, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Minister of National Defense and Yuksel Yalova, Minister of State, will work in the commission related with the Constitutional change.

[03] SECURITY MEASURES TIGHTENED IN MUDANYA

The vehicles and those who are inside the vehicles pass through a security check at the security point at Mudanya entrance. Here, vehicles, the ones who enter and leave the county, are detected with cameras. Reinforcement teams also joined the Mudanya security forces. Those who will watch the trial must apply to the Mudanya County Gendarme Commandership. The finger prints and photographs of those who will go to Imrali will be taken and then their faces will be electronically scanned. Following this, they will be given their security cards at 5.30 am and then be taken to the port where they will pass through another security check. At 7.40 am they will leave Mudanya to go to Imrali with sea buses.

After the court hearing they will return to Mudanya at 4.30 pm and return their security cards. The same procedure will be followed for each hearing.

The lawyers and relatives of the chief terrorist who will also be present during the hearings, on the other hand, will go to the Island from Gemlik Port Managements (GEMPORT) Cooperation. They have to be at Gemlik County Gendarme Commandership latest by 4.30am on Monday. These people will leave Gemlik at 5.20am after their procedures are completed.

In the meantime, the families who lost their sons to the terrorist organization also started coming to Mudanya. They will be present at the hearings as intervenors and spectators.

A communication bureau has been set up at the county entrance for these families. The families are given assistance on a variety of subjects including accomodation by this bureau. The families are offered free accomodation at guesthouses assigned for them in Mudanya and Bursa.

[04] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO INVITE PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT TO WASHINGTON

Sources close to the U.S. administration said Washington D.C. was pleased about the foundation of the new government and reminded that Clinton did not have a bilateral meeting with a Turkish Prime Minister since the former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to Washington in 1997 December.

''There are many subjects to be discussed which piled up,'' said the sources and stated that Clinton's invitation will come in the coming weeks.

Cooperation on Caspian basin energy resources, Kosovo, Northern Iraq, Turkey's economic reforms, Cyprus and human rights are the principle issues on the agendas of both countries, it was said.

Washington appreciates Turkey's support to NATO in Kosovo operation, and the U.S. would not perform an act without Turkey's support on the question of Iraq, it was also noted.

The sources said the U.S. was hopeful of the new economic reforms that is very much needed in Turkey and added that they expected developments also on human rights from Ecevit government.

The U.S. authorities pointed out that they will work to bring together Rauf Denktas, President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Glafcos Clerides, leader of Greek Cypriot side in Cyprus while observers stated that it is not yet clear if Washington has a concrete plan on Cyprus these days as Kosovo problem is on top of the world's agenda.

The Turkish side, on the other hand, is expecting solid support from the U.S. administration on the sales of weapons from the U.S. to Ankara which sometimes become irregular.

[05] TURKISH AND FOREIGN JOURNALISTS CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO MUDANYA

The accreditation procedures of journalists are continuing at the Press Center that was formed by the Prime Ministry Press and Information General Directorate at Montania Hotel in Mudanya.

A total of 815 members of press including 554 Turkish journalists registered so far. The authorities said this number could reach to one thousand.

Representatives of many international press institutions which broadcast to the whole world, also registered. CNN (U.S.), WTN and BBC (British), RTL, ZDF and ARD (German), the Findland Radio and Television, the Greek Mega Channel and Star Channel are among them.

International news agencies like the Associated Press, Reuters, UPI, Agence France Press, the Athens News Agency and the Spanish EFE will also be transmitting news from Mudanya. World famous newspapers like Daily Telegraph, New York Times, Financial Timead, Le Monde and Le Figaro have registered as well. Many press institutions including the German Der Spiegel and the French L'Express magazines will also report about the hearings.

In the meantime, both Turkish and foreign reporters are given documents both in Turkish and English by the Press Center. The documents include a Mudanya map, brochures promoting the South East Anatolia Project (GAP), a booklet on the Turkish justice system, and addresses and phone numbers of Turkish and foreign press institutions in Turkey.

A total of 50 telephones, 10 fax machines and 10 telephone lines with satellite connection have been installed at the Press Center to be used by the reporters. A large hall has also been prepared for the press members who will be given assistance by a team of 20 people.

The Anadolu News Agency (A.A)and the TRT General Directorate formed special bureaus at the Press Center. A WBI system with satellite connection was established in A.A. bureau as well as computers for news writing. The A.A. will also offer photography service to local and foreign press institutions from Mudanya.

[06] A TERRORIST FROM BEKAA TO IMRALI - ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO LAUNCHED A TERRORIST ACTIVITY WITH THE DREAM OF FORMING A SEPARATE STATE ON TURKISH TERRITORIES, BROUGHT TO TURKEY 20 YEARS AFTER HIS GOING TO LEBANON ON JULY 2, 1979

Terrorist chief, with code name ''Apo'', who went to Lebanon on July 2, 1979 via Syria to initiate his bloody acts, was brought to Turkey with a successful operation of Turkish armed forces on February 15, 1999, 20 years after his going to Lebanon.

Terrorist chief, who gave directives to implement bloody plans made in various camps in Lebanon, passed to Syria in 1992 due to Turkey's determined attitude, and as ''Bekaa Valley lost its functioning'', as was said by Ocalan himself. Terrorist chief ruled his bloody acts from here for long years, although Syrian administration denied this for a long time. Terrorist chief had to leave the hole he was living in here again due to resolved attitude of Turkey and its pressure towards this country.

A process, which he could not turn, started for terrorist chief, when he left Syria on October 9, 1998.

October 9, 1998:

Officials of Syria told terrorist chief to leave this country upon the pressures of Turkey on this country not to shelter him more. Terrorist chief wanted Ayfer Kaya, having code name Rozalin, so-called representative of Greece, to make necessary preparations to go to Greece as Syrian officials told him that he also can not go to Lebanon. Meanwhile, terrorist chief, who got a false passpart in the name of Abdullah Sarikurt, began to wait for news from Greece.

Terrorist chief departed Damascus when positive news came from Badovas, ''one of his friends in Greece'', with his own words. Terrorist chief left for Stockholm together with Ayfer Kaya and later landed ın Athens.

A high level name of Greek intelligence, named Dimitri, welcomed him and he was taken to a room. Greek official told terrorist chief that he could only stay in Greece till 17:00 pm. Terrorist chief decided to go to Russia when his demands to get asylum and to stay in a hotel in the airport, was rejected.

Upon this, terrorist chief called a terrorist, having code name Mahir, in Russia and asked if he could go to this country. Russia adventure of Ocalan started when Russian officials allowed him to come to this country.

Terrorist chief left for Russia together with Ayfer Kaya with a jet that was allocated to him by Greek officials.

The terrorist, having code name Mahir, and a Russian official, who is responsible for Geopolitic Parliament Commission, and two tradesmen welcomed terrorist chief in this country.

October 11, 1998:

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz had disclosed that chief terrorist was in Russia.

October 20, 1998:

Yilmaz spoke for a second time: ''We have determined that terrorist chief has been in a suburb in Moscow for one week. He is not able to direct terrorist organization, even can not talk to his supporters on the phone. Despite all these, Russian officals continued their allegations that chief terrorist was not in their country.

October 27, 1998:

''Apo note'' from Turkey to Russia: ''Extradite terrorist chief to Turkey!''

Terrorist chief, who stayed in Moscow for 30 days, sheltered in a two-flat house there. He began to look for another country to take shelter upon the demands of Russian officials to leave this country.

Terrorist chief, upon the invitation of Montovani, Re-structuring Party Deputy, left for Italy, also by taking into consideration relations between Italy and European Union.

Lebedev, Russia's Ambassador to Ankara, who conveyed a private message of Russian Prime Minister Primakov to Yilmaz, then Prime Minister, said terrorist chief was not in their territories any more and that he will not be allowed to enter this country again.

November 12, 1998:

Terrorist chief, who landed Rome Airport, was welcomed by Ahmet Yaman, a supporter of terrorist organization. Terrorist chief told the first police, who approached him, that he was Abdullah Ocalan, chief of the terrorist organization.

Italian officials who initiated asylum process, told terrorist chief that they will not surrender him to Turkey. Yet, added that they may extradite him to Germany if this country makes a demand within the framework of Schengen Agreement. Terrorist chief was arrested on grounds that he used false passport.

The news report that terrorist chief was captured in Italy caused a wave of joy in Turkey. Relatives of people, who were killed in terrorist attacks and the ones who were wounded due to these attacks had the hope that terrorist chief will be extradited to Turkey by Italy, a ''NATO ally'', and will account for his crimes in front of Turkish justice.

Justice Ministry made its first application to Italy through Interpol for the extradition of terrorist chief to Turkey.

November 14, 1998:

Yet the joys turned into dissapointment due to the attitude which Italy assumed following the capture of terrorist chief. Supporters of terrorist organization staged demonstrations in several European countries and attacked a group of Turkish Journalists in Rome. Italian security forces remained as spectators and did not interfere the terrorists.

November 15, 1998:

Hasan Denizkurdu, Minister of Justice, said a draft change was prepared in Turkish Penal Code to abolish capital punishment which is claimed to create problem in extradition of terrorist chief to Turkey.

November 16, 1998:

Calls for boycott began to come against Italy which supported Ocalan, the murderer of babies.

[07] A TERRORIST FROM BEKAA TO IMRALI

Terrorist chief, who was declared as ''unwanted guest'' in Italy also, had to go to Kenya when all the airports of Europe were closed to him.

Terrorist chief, who was hosted in residence of Greek Ambassador in Kenya, began to look for another gate to him, yet this ended in Imrali Island where he will account for his crimes in front of Turkish justice.

November 17, 1998:

Terrorist chief Ocalan was interrogated by Italian judges for the first time. Terrorist chief, in his two-hour interrogation, claimed that he repented from the bloody activities he realized.

November 18, 1998:

European Parliament rejected a proposal of Greek, Spanish and Italian parliamentarians to grant political asylum to terrorist chief in another European country. Meanwhile, reactions against Italy continued increasinly.

November 19, 1998:

Diliberto, Italian Justice Minister, confirmed arrest decision of terrorist chief. The decree forsaw Ocalan to be kept in the house by taking into consideration his illness and that he will not be able to flee.

November 20, 1998:

Terrorist chief, who was arrested on grounds of having false passport, was released by Rome Court of Appeals as the time he remained arrested was adequate.

Terrorist chief who was kept in a hospital during the time he was arrested, settled in a villa under police control. They advised Ocalan that he was free yet he should not leave home due to security reasons.

November 30, 1998:

Extradition file in Rome: A 900-page file, composed of four files, including Turkey's request for extradition of terrorist chief, was conveyed to Italian officials.

December 7, 1998:

Terrorist chief was interrogated by a French judge due to the acts of terrorist organization in France.

January 16, 1999:

Terrorist chief held tete-a-tete meetings with Turkish, Italian, British, Belgian, German, Dutch and Greek journalists, parliamentarians from various countries, lawyers and a British lord during his stay in Italy.

Terrorist chief held contacts with his supporters easily in the villa he was living. Yet, terrorist chief began to look for another country to stay as he was faced with the threat of being under continious arrest in Italy. He thought of South Africa, Greece, Russia, the Netherlands, Finland, and Baltic countries.

Many of the European countries told terrorist chief that they will cover a similar Rome process if he comes and Britian in a written statement gave him the message not to come.

Terrorist chief left for Russia again on January 16. Russian security forces gave him 10 days to leave the country.

February 1, 1999:

Terrorist chief contacted with his ''Greek friends'' and the terrorist named Ayfer Kaya, and left for Greece when he was not wanted in Russia.

Terrorist chief, who was welcomed by Greek officials, was not allowed to enter from the airport. He was brought to a military installation used by Greek intelligence.

From here, terrorist chief was brought to Minsk city of Belarus with a plane to proceed to the Netherlands. He returned to Athens when doors of all airports were closed to him.

February 2, 1999:

Terrorist chief was sent to Kenya from here. Greek officials welcomed him in Kenya and he was sheltered in residence of Greek Ambassador for sometime.

February 16, 1999:

Greek officials told terrorist chief to leave the Embassy to go to another country as Kenyan officials were informed about the Ocalan and felt uneasy.

Terrorist chief was captured with a successful operation of Turkish security forces in Nairobi Airport and was brought to Turkey at 03:00 local time. Terrorist chief was brought to Imrali Island where he will be judged.

[08] A TOTAL OF 108 PEOPLE TO WATCH OCALAN'S TRIAL

According to the lists prepared by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Republic Prosecutorship, twenty-six parents, siblings and wives of those who were killed by the terrorist organization PKK will attend the hearings as intervenors in rotation. A total of 38 people who were wounded in clashes with the terrorist organization and the relatives of those who were killed will also be present at the hearings as spectators.

Resul Akay, the Chairman of the Turkish Public Unions (Kamu-Sen), Suayip Ozcan, the Chairman of Turkish Educational Unions (Egit-Sen) will join the trial as intervenors while Yucel Sayman, the Chairman of Istanbul Bar will follow all hearings as a spectator. Ocalan's sisters, brothers, cousins and uncles will also be present during all hearings.

A group of 12, among whom there are foreign parliamentarians, will follow the trial as spectators. Twelve Turkish and eight foreign journalists will report Ocalan's trial unceasingly.

Ercan Kanar, Hasip Kaplan, Irfan Dundar, M. Fehim GUnes, Mukrime Tepe, Aysel Tugluk, Dogan Erbas, Ender Kuyukculha, Niyazi Bulgan, Mahmut Sakar, Hatice Korkut and Kemal Bilgic will attend the trial as Ocalan's lawyers.

The lawyers representing the state and the families of those who were killed by Ocalan's terrorist organization, Cahit Torun, Sevket Can Ozbay, Zeki Haci Ibrahimoglu, Necdet Kucuktaskiran, Mukremin Turkmen, Mehdi Keskin, Cengiz Erkoyuncu will be there all throughout the trial while five other lawyers will be present at the hearings in rotation.

[09] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - FAMILIES OF THE ONES WHO WERE KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS, WHO CAME TO COVER THE HEARING, BEGIN TO APPLY TO BURSA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Emre Ayman, Bursa Deputy Governor, issued a statement and said all the needs of the families, who will attend the hearings as intervenors and spectators, will be met by the governorship. Ayman said the families will be hosted in guesthouses and will be taken to Mudanya on the dates of hearings.

Zeliha Coban, mother of a soldier who was killed in terrorist attack, told A.A correspondent that the only crime of Ibrahim Coban, his son, who was killed on July 31, 1996 in Hakkari, was to protect the country.

Meanwhile, Bursa Governorship Press and Public Relations Directorate statement said the families, press members and foreign mission members, whose names were determined, should apply to Mudanya provincal Gendarme Commandership and get necessary documents to attend the trial.

Meanwhile, 60 families of Mudanya province applied governorship to host the families of the ones who were killed by the terrorist organization.

Ismail Turkyilmaz, who will participate in the hearing as intervenor and spectator, recalled that his son Sadik Turkyilmaz was killed by the terrorist organization in Cukurca county in Hakkari province in 1995, and noted that they trusted Turkish justice. Turkyilmaz ais ''we believe in our justice. All the world will see what Turkish justice is.''

Selma Turkyilmaz, mother of Sadik Turkyilmaz, said ''for years, we have been waiting for this day to come. We expect the court to take a capital punishment decision. We will wait in Mudanya till he is executed.''

Meanwhile, the ones who came to Mudanya, began to carry out their procedures to go to the Island. New identities and passage cards are given to the spectators and relatives of the ones killed by the terrorist organization.

[10] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - THE INDICTMENT, PREPARED BY SALK, YUKSEL AND KELES, THE PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, IS COMPOSED OF SIX PARTS AND 139 PAGES

The first part of the indictment tells about the process which started after Ocalan was brought to Turkey.

The indictment noted that the suıts fıled against Ocalan in several provinces were combined in Ankara State Security Court and pointed out that terrorist activities of Ocalan, which form a crime under Turkish Penal Code, altogether violated Article 125 of Turkish Penal Code.

In the second part of the indictment, establishment of terrorist PKK organization, its program, strategy, structuring and terrorist activities were taken up in details. In this part, foundation congress of terrorist organization and other congresses, terrorist activities in prisons, suicide attacks, HADEP-PKK relation, metropolis activities, and PKK-med tv relations were conveyed.

Terrorist activities of PKK realized so far, and their characteristics were observed in the third section of the indictment. This part gives examples to raids of terrorist organization on settlement places, its terrorist activities in cities, blockıng of roads, attacks on economic targets, suicide attacks, massacre of teachers, attacks on tourism targets and military units.

In the fourth part of the indictment, terrorist activities of Abdullah Ocalan, terrorist chief, magazines published by terrorist organization, his statements issued in organizational meetings, wireless speeches and his orders were taken up. Efforts of terrorist PKK organization to open to the Black Sea by cooperating with several illegal extreme leftist organizations, and raids on Eruh and Semdinli, which were the first activities of terrorist organization, were taken up in details.

In the fourth part of the indictment terrorist activities of the terrorist organization were determined according to Constitution, concerned laws and international agreements.

Stressing that terrorists of the PKK organization were sent to Turkey by Ocalan to hold terrorist attacks after being trained in camps in Syria and Iraq, the indictment listed the statements of Ocalan on the issue, congress decisions of terrorist organization and his speeches in Med-tv.

The indictment stressed that ''Abdullah Ocalan, as the chief of the terrorist PKK organization, is responsible for all the attacks of the armed gang'', and pointed out that these attacks formed a crime under the Constitution, Turkish Penal Code and Struggle Against Terrorism Law.

The indictment said terrorist PKK organization realized 6.036 attacks since Eruh and Semdinli raids on August 15, 1984 till February 22, 1999. It said they clashed with security forces for 8.257 times.

A total of 3.071 bombs were exploded, 388 usurpation crimes were committed and 1.046 people were abducted.

The indictment said 4.472 civilians, 3.874 soldiers, 247 police, and 1.225 temporary village guards were killed in terrorist attacks and that a total of 16.362 people, including civilians, soldiers and temporary village guards were wounded.

The conclusion part of the indictment says ''Ocalan, terrorist chief, ruled the terrorist PKK organization, which he established and organized, and targetted separating some parts of the territories which are under sovereignty of the state'' and calls for capital punishment against terrorist chief.

[11] EXPLOSION TAKES PLACE IN FRONT OF TRT STUDIOS IN ISTANBUL

The bomb disposal experts who came to the scene observed five or six small holes on the iron bars which separated the main area from the parking lot.

Following the explosion, Journalists Federation and Izmir Journalists Association condemned the attack.

''This attack which took place right before the terrorist chief's trial is the last efforts of terrorists who saw that terrorism has been eradicated. We believe that the independent Turkish court will give the terrorist chief the punishment he deserves,'' said Erol Akincilar, the Chairman of Izmir Journalists Association.

[12] TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS - GUVENDIREN, CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH-ISRAELI BUSINESS COUNCIL: ''TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL INCREASE MORE THAN TWO BILLION U.S. DOLLARS WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS''

Responding to the questions of A.A correspondent on Turkish-Israeli relations, Guvendiren said political stability in the region will be positively effected if peace process between Palestine and Israel is concluded and that Turkey, which is a regional country, will made use of this.

Guvendiren said a free trade region will be established in the border between Palestine and Israel if peace process is resumed, adding that ''the U.S. and Israeli side welcomed our view which forsaw doing business with the U.S. and Turkish republics from the free trade regions. The U.S. companies showed a great interest. Turkey will do business with Israeli and Arab countries after this.''

Noting that he was hopeful of the developments, Guvendiren said trade relations between Turkey and Israel will increase more than two billion U.S. dollars within several years.

Trade relations between Turkey and Israel improved in favour of Turkey following Free Trade Agreement which took effect on May 1, 1997.

[13] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - ''CRISIS DESK'' ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL AGAINST PROBABLE ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND INCIDENTS

The crisis desk, which was established under leadership of Erol Cakir, Istanbul Governor, and with the participation of security and gendarme officials, will intervene to any kind of illegal demonstrations and incidents immediately.

Leaves are lifted in security forces, and a high level security official pointed out that they will not allow any illegal activity in the city.

The official said the applications called ''Tranquility 34'' will be carried out without intervals, and noted that reinforced security measures were taken in public places where people are densely populated.

A.A

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article