Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-06-18

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

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

AA Daily

18 June 1999 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - EXPORT FROM GAP TO MIDDLE EAST DECREASES 17.4 PERCENT

[03] PRESIDENT TURKMENBASI OF TURKMENISTAN: - ''TURKMEN NATURAL GAS WILL ARRIVE IN TURKEY IN 2002''

[04] STATE MINISTER GUREL LEAVES FOR ITALY

[05] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM GENERAL STAFF TO ALBANIA

[06] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 2,217 FLIGHT HOURS

[07] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL - A TOTAL OF 554 MUSICIANS APPEARE ON STAGE SO FAR

[08] RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE IMF - IMF DELEGATION PREPARES A REPORT ON THE TURKISH PRIVATE SECTOR

[09] COOPERATION WITH U.S. IN GAP

[10] TURKISH TRADE CENTER TO BE OPENED IN BUDAPEST

[11] JAZZ CONCERT IN ANCIENT CITY OF TROY

[12] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SENDS A MESSAGE TO G-8: ''CYPRUS QUESTION CAN BE SOLVED AMONG FOUR PARTIES''

[13] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''ANY NEW PROJECT CAN'T BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE''

[14] TREASURY DECREASES BORROWING AMOUNT IN BOND AND DEBENTURE BOND TENDERS ON JUNE 22

[15] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES ITS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

[16] WHO THIRD EUROPEAN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE FINAL STATEMENT SIGNED

[17] HUNTER, ONE OF U.S. PRESIDENT'S ADVISERS EVALUATES KOSOVO PROBLEM: ''TURKEY HAS ASSUMED AN IMPORTANT ROLE''

[18] SOMUNCUOGLU, MINISTER OF STATE, TO LEAVE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[19] DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH UNITS IN KOSOVO - PARRIS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''THE U.S. EXPECTS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKISH UNITS IN KOSOVO, AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

U.S. AND NORTHERN IRAQI GROUPS ASSURE GUARANTEE TO TURKEY
The U.S., the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) assured gurantees to Turkey regarding the latter's political and security concern about the future of the region on the first day of the meetings among them in Washington D.C. The PUK, which is accused by KDP of supporting the terrorist organization, assured gurantee saying that such a support does not exist.

COTTARELLI: ''IT IS EARLY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT''
Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk, said that it is very early to discuss the financial support to Turkey and its amount. Cottarelli said that the financial support and its amount will be related to an agreement and this will be the topic of the meetings in coming days.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

IMPORT OF FOOD FROM BELGIUM BANNED
Turkey banned import of food from Belgium in the wake of the ''chicken products with dioxin causing cancer'' scandal. Products imported from Belgium such as chocolate, milk and meat, are being analyzed by experts.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

U.S.: WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALLEGATIONS
The U.S. State Department said that they took into consideration the news reports claiming that there are PKK camps in Greece. James Foley, the Deputy Spokesman of the U.S. State Department, said that the U.S. is aware of these allegations, and launched an investigation on them.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ALIYEV THANKS TURKISH DOCTORS
President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan received Kadri Ecvet Tezcan, the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Addressing the meeting, President Aliyev expressed satisfaction over Turkish doctor's interest, and thanked President Suleyman Demirel and the Turkish people.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

A final vote will be held today for the proposal envisaging change in the 143rd Article of the Turkish Constitution regarded with the structure of the State Security Courts (DGMs). Parliamentarians gave their consent to the removal of a military judge from the DGMs at the first round of voting which was held on Wednesday.

FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS
Turkey has repaid a total of 4 billion 780 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt since the beginning of this year. The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 3 billion 929.4 million U.S. dollars and the Central Bank repaid 222.3 million U.S. dollars. The foreign debt payment was 432 million U.S. dollars in January; 765.8 million U.S. dollars in February; 770.5 million U.S. dollars in March; 836.4 million U.S. dollars in April and 680.9 million U.S. dollars in May 1998.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM DUE TO FRANCE
National Basketball Team will leave for France later today to participate in the 34th European Basketball Championship.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

U.S. REWARDS TURKISH BUSINESMAN WITH YEAR'S EXPORTER AWARD
Lemi Kurtulus, a Turkish businessman, won the prize of ''Year's Exporter'' with his Amexco Firm which works in the field of environmental engineering in Chicago, where he has been living for 35 years. Amexco, which serves many American firms in the field of environmental issues and which produces new technologies, sells the technologies it produces to Peru, Egypt, Brasil, and Argantine.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - EXPORT FROM GAP TO MIDDLE EAST DECREASES 17.4 PERCENT

In the same period last year, the region exported 97 million 462 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 five months of the year, they exported 37 million 865 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 33 million 16 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 1 million 328 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits and 8 million 488 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock.

''The majority of the goods were exported to Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, and the Turkish goods in greatest demand were carpets, synthetic thread, cotton thread, flour, dried apricot, sugar, biscuit, cake, chocolate, candy, plastic sack, liquid oil and chickpea,'' he said.

[03] PRESIDENT TURKMENBASI OF TURKMENISTAN: - ''TURKMEN NATURAL GAS WILL ARRIVE IN TURKEY IN 2002''

President Turkmenbasi made a speach at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Ministers. Oktay Ozuye, Turkish Ambassador to Turkmenistan, was also in attendance at the meetings.

Stressing that the electricity energy project with Turkey should be accelerated, Turkmenbasi said, ''lets integrate with Turkey in the field of textile. If we are one nation, and two separate states, we should further improve our relations.''

Expressing satisfaction over the economic relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan for the past eight years, President Turkmenbasi said that they want to further improve commercial relations with Turkey.

Noting that he will hold talks with President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan in coming days to accelerate the natural gal pipeline project, Turkmenbasi also added that a summit will be held either in Turkey or in Turkmenistan with the participation of head of states of the regional countries.

[04] STATE MINISTER GUREL LEAVES FOR ITALY

Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport, Gurel noted that he will come together with Italian Defense Minister, and with high-level representatives from several public and private sectors.

When asked whether or not the U.S. and the G-8 countries will impose sanctions on the Turkish government about the Cyprus question, Gurel stressed that their confederation offer is still valid. He stressed that a formula without pre-conditions will not be accepted neither by Turkey nor by President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Gurel emphasized that Turkey support President's attitude on the issue.

Recalling that an advisory decision was adopted at the G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting, but it is not clear yet whether or not the Cyprus question will be brought onto the agenda, Gurel said, ''Turkey welcomed G-8 countries' interest in Cyprus question so far. We always welcome positive and productive talks. But the Cyprus question is not an issue that can go forward with the external interventions.''

[05] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM GENERAL STAFF TO ALBANIA

The Directorate General of the Red Crescent issued a statement saying that 10 trucks carrying 391 tents, 560 tent equipments, 1,740 chairs, 1,845 kitchen equipments, 2,600 water bottles, 2 stoves, 1,900 bedclothes, 11,320 kg of cotton, 3,500 jackets, 1,500 caps, and 500 blankets, have set out for Albania.

A total of 7,750 Kosovars who were forced to leave their homes so far as a result of ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosovo, have been provided shelters in the camps which were set up by Turkey in Macedonia and Albania.

[06] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 2,217 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, stayed in air for 28 hours June 17.

Meanwhile, a total of 937,834 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 17,680 refugees in Turkey; 50 thousand in Serbia; 69,400 in Montenegro; 444,200 in Albania; 243,700 thousand in Macedonia; 21,700 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and 91,154 in other countries.

A total of 7,701 Kosovars have been sheltered at Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Camp in Kirklareli while a total of 3,200 Kosovars stay in the camps which were set up by Turkey in Macedonia and Albania.

[07] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL - A TOTAL OF 554 MUSICIANS APPEARE ON STAGE SO FAR

A total of 554 musicians including 18 soloists, 2 conductors, 68 technical staff, 112 members of choir, 34 ballets and 150 crowd artists, appeared on stage within two days during the performances of Carmen and Aida.

Meanwhile, three trained horses also greeted audiences during the Aida opera. The horses presented a very successful performance on the stage in the role of kings horses.

Worldwide famous Italian director Travaglini came to Antalya to watch the Aida opera in the fascinating and mysterious atmosphere of the Aspendos.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Travaglini said that the ancient Aspendos Theathre having a peculiar spirit, inspired him.

The festival will continue with the ''Madame Butterfly'' of Giacomo Puccini which will be performed by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet on June 21.

Aspendos will host the Croation State Opera and Ballet on June 23 while the Bulgarian Opera and Ballet will be the guest of the festival with the ''Othello'' on June 28.

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will greet audience with the ''Carmina Burana'' of Carl Orff on July 1, and with the ''Hoffmann's Tales'' of Jacques Offenbach on July 3.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will organize a ''Johann Strauss Night'' on July 5, and the Izmir State Opera and Ballet will perform the ''Giselle'' of Adolphe Charles Adam.

The 6th International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival will end on July 10 with the ''Fidelio'' of Ludwig van Beethoven which will be performed by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet.

[08] RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE IMF - IMF DELEGATION PREPARES A REPORT ON THE TURKISH PRIVATE SECTOR

The IMF officials told the A.A correspondent that the report is on the private sector's place in the Turkish economy, and its role in reconstruction.

The report is expected to be sent to Washington D.C. at the weekend.

The IMF delegation which came to Turkey on June 15 within the framework of the regular annual evaluation meetings, proceeded to Ankara yesterday.

The delegation will continue its contacts till June 28.

[09] COOPERATION WITH U.S. IN GAP

Turkey will cooperate with the regional development organizations of the U.S. which have similarities with the GAP, and activities will be carried out in the fields of water administration, development of water sources, irrigation, flood controlling and irrigation systems.

Officials at the GAP Regional Development Administration told the A.A correspondent that the GAP Administration officials are holding contacts with the officials at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority, Lower Colorado River Authority, Salt River Project, California State Water Project and Central Arizona Project.

Officials said that as a result of the GAP Administration's contacts, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency gave donation for financing the two projects of international airport and GAP Geographical Information System within the scope of GAP.

Noting that the GAP Administration and the Tennessee Valley Authority decided to give the start for the preparations for the signing of a cooperation protocol, officials said the protocol, which was prepared following the meetings, was at the stage of being approved by the U.S. State Department.

[10] TURKISH TRADE CENTER TO BE OPENED IN BUDAPEST

Releasing a statement, the EXPO B Group said the Turkish Trade Center to be opened in Budapest will be an uninterrupted bridge in commercial ties of the Turkish businessmen, and all kind of offers and demands concerning the brochures and products that will be displayed at the Trade Center will be changed into concrete results through the direct meetings with the customers.

In addition to information service, the center in question will serve the businessmen, who will arrive in Hungary, in the fields of accommodation, transportation, guidance, bilateral meetings and appointments.

[11] JAZZ CONCERT IN ANCIENT CITY OF TROY

Prof. Dr. Manfreed Korfmann, the leader of the group carrying out excavations in Troy; Gurbuz Ipek, the Deputy Governor of Canakkale, and many jazz lovers attended the concert.

Prior to the 28-member orchestra's concert, Minja Yana, the UNESCO's Representative to Japan, presented to Prof. Dr. Manfreed Korfmann the document stating that Troy was included in the UNESCO's list of ''World Culture Heritage''.

The concert, which was organized with the support of the Culture Ministry, will again be staged on Friday night at the Canakkale Municipality's Amphitheatre.

[12] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SENDS A MESSAGE TO G-8: ''CYPRUS QUESTION CAN BE SOLVED AMONG FOUR PARTIES''

Addressing to journalists, TRNC President Denktas criticized the attitude of the G-8 countries about the Cyprus question, adding interference with the Cyprus question from outside further encourages the Greek Cypriot side.

''Don't interfere with the Cyprus question from outside. The more others interfere with this issue, the more uncompromising attitude the Greek Cypriot side has. Besides, those who interfere also support the Greek Cypriot side by calling them as the ''Cypriot government'' which is infact a fake title. On the contrary, the Cypriot issue stems from the fact that the Greek Cypriot side is not the Cypriot government. They try to solve the question without taking into consideration certain foundations. First of them, is the balance between Turkey and Greece. The issue of the European Union (EU) was put forward to disturb this balance. The other one is the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots with the Greek Cypriots. They try to put this away by the mediation of the EU. This is a political initiative and it contributed to removing the Set of Ideas,'' Denktas said.

Noting that the G-8 countries are in an approach to satisfy the Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said that G-8 wants to bring the two sides on Cyprus together, make them sit around a negotiation table, and urges the U.N. Secretary General to realize this.

''The Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General has been visiting the two sides on Cyprus for a period of time and she knows that there is nothing the two sides can jointly put to the negotiation table. Thus, she can't gain anything by forcing us to sit around a negotiation table. We insistently say that we can negotiate with the Greek Cypriot side upon the 'state to state basis','' said Denktas.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side does its best to transform Cyprus into a Greek Cypriot republic and join the EU as a Greek Cypriot republic, Rauf Denktas said that the statement saying that ''EU will ease the solution of the Cyprus issue'' reflects the Greek view and it tells a wrong story.

''Please leave this issue to the concerned parties,'' said Denktas, adding that the parties were determined by the 1959 U.N. Resolutions and there were the signatures of the parties under 1960 agreements.

[13] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''ANY NEW PROJECT CAN'T BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE''

Ersumer, who visited Mehmet Seyman, the Acting Governor of Canakkale, responded the questions of reporters during the meeting.

When asked what he thinks about the news claiming that the U.S. produces new projects as alternatives to the Baku-Ceyhan, Ersumer said, ''these are not new projects. There are two lines in question and they are called as the by-pass lines. One of these is the pipeline which will reach the Mediterranean from the Albanian shores, and the other one is the pipeline that will reach the Marmara from Sile. There is an opinion in both of them about by-passing the Straits. Actually, such a pipeline's being an alternative to the Baku-Ceyhan is impossible. The Baku-Ceyhan is the main exporting pipeline regarding the transportation of the Caspian basin oil into the Mediterranean. I want to say that those alternatives were brought into the agenda and put forward as feasibility projects when the transportation of annually 50 million tons of oil into the Mediterranean and the lates developments in the region are taken into consideration.''

Noting that the Adriatic shores don't have the capacity to load-unload annually 50 million ton oil, Ersumer said, ''everybody, who has a role in world oil transportation, is aware of the deficiencies and inconveniences there. It is wrong to percieve it as the U.S. supports a pipeline as an alternative to the Baku-Ceyhan.''

Recalling that Turkey earlier supported the Baku-Supsa Pipeline by saying that there can't be an alternative to the Baku-Ceyhan, Ersumer said, ''today, it is understood that this opinion is wrong.''

[14] TREASURY DECREASES BORROWING AMOUNT IN BOND AND DEBENTURE BOND TENDERS ON JUNE 22

Releasing a statement, Treasury Undersecretariat said the net borrowing amount, which was earlier planned to be between 850 trillion TL and 1 quadrillion 50 trillion TL, was decreased by taking into consideration the developments in the markets.

The statement said the Treasury's borrowing policies were reviewed within the framework of the developments in the markets since the announcement of the tender programme for June 1999.

Treasury can re-arrange its tender programme if it earlier publicly announces that change.

[15] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES ITS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

Sources said the targets of the 1999 programme and economic figures, which can be revised, are being discussed at technical level within the framework of especially the macro economic realizations.

Sources said the course of foreign exchange reserves, implementations of monetary policy to control the use of short-term advance and inflation, interest and currency policies are being discussed at the meetings at the Central Bank.

IMF delegation is expected to evaluate at the weekend the information they received from the government officials in Ankara.

[16] WHO THIRD EUROPEAN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE FINAL STATEMENT SIGNED

The draft, was accepted by the member countries and signed by Frank Dobson, the Minister of Health of Britain on behalf of the WHO member 51 European countries. Turkey was was represented by the Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin at the last day session of the conference which the draft was discussed.

These 51 countries, including Turkey, accepted that there are still very serious environment and health problems which should rapidly be solved in Europe, in the final statement which was also signed by Jo Asvall, the WHO Europe Director.

Meanwhile, following the closing session of the WHO Conference, Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin visited a facility in Grundon where the hospital disposal is burned.

Minister Aytekin will return to Turkey on Saturday after wrapping up his contacts in London.

[17] HUNTER, ONE OF U.S. PRESIDENT'S ADVISERS EVALUATES KOSOVO PROBLEM: ''TURKEY HAS ASSUMED AN IMPORTANT ROLE''

In his speech in the lunch hosted by the Association of Diplomacy Correspondents in his honour, Hunter evaluated the recent situation regarding the Kosovo problem and said that he considers the attitude of Turkey as correct.

Explaining the reasons of the NATO's intervention in Yugoslavia, Hunter said that the Balkans has a central importance in respect of installation of a security atmosphere in the 21st century.

Noting that NATO was criticized for violating the sovereignty of one country, Hunter said, ''however, human rights are more important than the sovereignities of countries in some cases.''

Responding to a question asking NATO's approach to the establishment of a separate state by Kosovar Albanians from Yugoslavia, Hunter said that the possible effects of an independent Kosovo on Albania and Macedonia have to be taken into consideration.

Stressing that the establishment of an independent state by Kosovar Albanians can send the message to the other ethnic groups in the world and they can say that ''doing the same thing is also our right'', in this respect this should be carefully examined.

Responding to questions about the formation process of the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) and reservations of Turkey about it, Hunter said that the European countries aim at using the possibilities of NATO within this identity.

Noting that unanimity is needed for the decisions that will be taken by the ESDI, Hunter said that Turkey can use its veto right in issues in which she has reservations.

Hunter, who is consultant of Rand Cooperation, one of the most important think-tank institutions of the U.S, visited Istanbul, Ankara, and Konya provinces within the framework of the contacts he held with non- governmental organizations (NGOs).

[18] SOMUNCUOGLU, MINISTER OF STATE, TO LEAVE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said a delegation headed by State Minister Somuncuoglu will participate in the ceremonies which will be held on June 21 over the delivery of the Dobrinja residences, which were constructed by a Turkish company, and opening of the Fojnica Rehabilitation Center within the framework of its three-day contacts in Bosnia- Herzegovina.

The statement recalled that the residences were constructed by a part of the 20 million U.S. dollars donation which was given to Bosnia-Herzegovina during President Suleyman Demirel's visit to this country in 1996.

State Minister Somuncuoglu will be received by Alia Izzetbegovic, the President of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and he will meet with several Bosnian officials during his visit.

[19] DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH UNITS IN KOSOVO - PARRIS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''THE U.S. EXPECTS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKISH UNITS IN KOSOVO, AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD''

Responding a question of the A.A correspondent whether the Turkish units' becoming late in entering Kosovo will affect her efforts to establish peace in the region, Parris noted that it is not important who entered the region first.

Underlining that the U.S. forces are not the first forces which entered into Kosovo, Parris stated that the armed forces of many NATO countries departed for Kosovo earlier than the U.S. forces, and that this does not mean their efforts for Kosovo are less important than the efforts of some other ally countries.

Noting that the most important fact is the contribution of each NATO ally in the general efforts in that NATO's first experience of war; Parris stressed that within this context, the military and humanitarian aid contributions of Turkey constitute an example.

Stating that he is sure that the technical arrangement for the deployment of Turkish unit in Kosovo will be completed soon, Parris emphasized that the U.S. expects cooperating with Turkey in Kosovo.

A.A

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