Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-06-20

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

AA Daily

20 June 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SOMUNCUOGLU, MINISTER OF STATE, LEAVES FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[03] STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''OCALAN IS GIVEN A FAIR TRIAL''

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES ON MONDAY - DEMIREL TO ADDRESS A CONFERENCE TITLED ''TALE OF THREE SEAS: ''ENERGY FUTURE OF THE CASPIAN, BLACK SEA AND MEDITERRANEAN''

[05] VIDEO TAPES RELATED WITH FETULLAH GULEN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''JUDGEMENT ORGAN OF THE STATE TOOK ACTION IN THE INCIDENT''

[06] FAR EAST VISIT OF THE BUSINESSMEN - TURKISH BUSINESSMEN, HOLDING CONTACTS IN HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI, ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT FUTURE AFTER THE VISIT

[07] CYPRUS IN G-8 SUMMIT - G-8 COUNTRIES TO EXPEND FULL SUPPORT TO CONSULTATION PROCESS IN CYPRUS

[08] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ELAZIG TO PARTICIPATE IN 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STARTING OF KEBAN DAM TO PRODUCTION

[09] 'SUNSET AT APOLLO TEMPLE' CELEBRATION IN ANTALYA

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

OCALAN WILL DIE OF FEAR
Head of the terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan sent a 'message of peace' to the world through the PKK's publication ''Ozgur Politika'' (Free Policy) newspaper. Ocalan asked the world to start a campaign to prevent his execution. Mahmut Sakar, one of the lawyers of Ocalan, said that Ocalan will submit 40 pages of defense to the court. Ocalan claimed that the Turkish-Kurdish conflict will last about another 100 years if he is executed.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

WE WANT EQUAL RIGHTS
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Minister of National Defense, had the opportunity to voice policies adopted by Turkey during NATO Foreign and Defense Ministers Meeting held in Brussels. Cem said Turkey should be more influential in NATO decisions. Pointing out that Turkey was closely interested in Kosovo issue, Cem said isolating NATO member countries from decision mechanism was not true. Cem said Turkish origin people in the region should have equal reights in decisions related with the future of Kosovo.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MHP PARLIAMENTARIANS PLEASED OVER PARLIAMENT
Ismail Kose, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Group Acting Chairman, and Omer Izgi addressed a joint news conference in the Parliament and expressed pleasure that attitude of the Parliament in the recent days proved that cooperation and compromise could be provided easily. ''Rapid, fruitful, and compromising attitude of the Parliament is required more than ever in this period when serious problems of the country should be solved'' Kose said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FETHULLAH GUVEN BEHIND PROBLEM BETWEEN TURKEY AND UZBEKISTAN
It was found out that Fethullah Guven's activities in Uzbekistan were one of the factors which ignited the diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Uzbekistan. Muhammet Salih and Enver Altayli who allegedly planned the assasination against the Uzbeki President, Islam Kerimov which took place on February 16 were reported to be Gulen's supporters.

RADIKAL (LEFT) FETULLAH OPERATION
An operation staged against Fetullah Gulen, whose name is mentioned many times in discussions about fundamentalism. Yet, no step had been taken against him so far. Gulen may be wanted with a red-bulletin in the near future. Investigation of Ankara State Security Court (DGM) will be speeded up.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS
A total of 20-22 percent prince increase will be provided to civil servants with a 780 trillion lira additional appropriations given to the budget. Actual rate will be determined in leaders' summit. Price increase will be provided with borrowing as no source could be found.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) INVESTIGATION OPENED FOR GULEN
The State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutorship took action against Fethullah Gulen whose video tapes were broadcasted on tv. President Suleyman Demirel declined to comment on the tapes while Prime Minister Ecevit assured people not to worry about such threats against the secular republic. ''People should be at ease. Noone can divert the Turkish Republic from Ataturk's secular route,'' Ecevit said.

BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL TOURISTS
Those who work in tourism sector had to turn to Turkish tourists as they were disappointed by the drop in the number of foreign tourists. Many hotels are offering attractive discounts and sometimes host children free. Compared to 1998, the hotel prices decreased by 30 to 50 percent this year.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) UGLY PLOT
Fetullah Gulen: Allegation of seizing the state is a slander. Speaking about the video tape which was broadcasted in a private tv channel on Friday, Gulen said it was not a secret shooting. I was addressing to people who came to visit me and we had recorded the casette. It would not have been recorded if it had been done with an illegal target. When whole of the cassette is taken into consideration, it will be seen that I am not against my state, but I act with my state.''

[02] SOMUNCUOGLU, MINISTER OF STATE, LEAVES FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Speaking at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before his departure to Bosnia- Herzegovina, Somuncuoglu recalled that Turkey would donate 20 million U.S. dollars to this country under an agreement signed on August 28, 1996 between Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Noting that 850 residences were constructed and a Medical Rehabilitation Center, which has 750 beds, was re-constructed with 8.8 million U.S. dollars of this aid, Somuncuoglu said Turkish company Borova-TML realized the repairment in question.

Somuncuoglu said he will participate in delivery and opening to service ceremonies of these installations and residences in Bosnia, adding that Alija Izzetbegovic, Bosnian Presidency Council member, will also participate in the ceremonies.

Somuncuoglu said he will have the opportunity to observe and consult the problems of Bosnian friends with the visit.

[03] STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''OCALAN IS GIVEN A FAIR TRIAL''

''I would like to stress that Ocalan is being tried fairly and independently. The court will definitely punish him and the punishment will be given according to the Turkish Penal Code. The jurisdiction is independent and no interference is possible, neither foreign nor domestic, '' Gurel responded when a journalist asked what the Turkish government is doing to carry out a fair trial for Ocalan.

Another reporter asked if Gurel's visit to Sicily could be interpreted as a recovery between Turkish-Italian relations which went through a tense period because of the head of the terrorist organization. ''This is not an official visit, I am attending a private meeting here and I am happy to be in Italy. For Turks, Italy is the country where Renaissance was born,'' Gurel said.

The Minister stated at the conference that the most important factor in European-Mediterranean cooperation is maintaining peace, stability, and mutual trust between nations, he told the A.A correspondent. Gurel also stressed at the conference that the EU must now fulfil its task regarding Turkey's membership. Turkey's realistic approaches on the EU did not arouse any reactions from foreign diplomats, he pointed out.

RAI 2, Italy's official tv channel also asked questions about the Turkish- Italian relations and Ocalan incident during its interview with Gurel.

Gurel who will attend the second day of the conference on Sunday will return home on Monday.

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES ON MONDAY - DEMIREL TO ADDRESS A CONFERENCE TITLED ''TALE OF THREE SEAS: ''ENERGY FUTURE OF THE CASPIAN, BLACK SEA AND MEDITERRANEAN''

A statement of Presidential Press Center said Demirel who will leave for Istanbul on Monday morning, will receive Liberidian, the Lecturer of Washington Eastern-Eastern Institute in Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel and will later address a confereence titled: ''Tale of Three Seas; Energy Future of the Caspian, Black Sea and the Mediterranean'' in the same hotel.

Demirel will later receive Richard Morningstar, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's Coordinator to Caspian Basin and John Wolf, his successor.

[05] VIDEO TAPES RELATED WITH FETULLAH GULEN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''JUDGEMENT ORGAN OF THE STATE TOOK ACTION IN THE INCIDENT''

Responding to the questions of reporters related with the issue, Demirel said ''I can not know what the people who face with these allegations will say.''

Responding to a question if they discussed during National Security Council (NSC) meetings that Fetullah Gulen and his community was a threat towards the state, Demirel said ''nobody can issue a statement during NSC meetings. Decision of the Council is required for this. Yet, I can say that NSC and other organs of the state are very sensitive towards threats that have a tendency to become a danger.''

[06] FAR EAST VISIT OF THE BUSINESSMEN - TURKISH BUSINESSMEN, HOLDING CONTACTS IN HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI, ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT FUTURE AFTER THE VISIT

Pointing out that Hong Kong was the trade center of the Far East and that Shanghai was the Istanbul of China, the businessmen said Turkey and Turkish goods image should be established in the Far East, joint strategies should be determined towards the region and continuous participation should be provided with the fairs and exhibitions.

Meanwhile, Necati Arikan, Koc Group Strategic Planning Chairman, responding to A.A correspondent's question, confirmed that they made searches to form Ramstore food market chain in Shanghai region, similar to the ones which are in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Arikan said ''it was a very beneficial visit. Turkish businessmen may improve trade with them. We should reduce rates of taxes to attract foreign capital. There is a potential in construction sector in Shanghai. We think of a promotion center in construction equipments here.''

Yavuz Onay, Turkish-Chinese Business Council Chairman, and Executive Board Chairman of Colakoglu Foreign Trade, said ''it was a good organization. Every company had the opportunity to meet with its interlocutor. Providing maintenance of cooperation is the duty of private sector in an atmosphere which political authority is positive. Chinese businessmen, who don't know Turkey and Turkish goods very well, interested in our delegation. We have reached several agreements on various issues. We can do everything in Chinese market.''

[07] CYPRUS IN G-8 SUMMIT - G-8 COUNTRIES TO EXPEND FULL SUPPORT TO CONSULTATION PROCESS IN CYPRUS

The communique said resolution of this problem would not only benefit all the people of Cyprus, but would also have a positive impact on peace and stability in the region.

The communique urged both sides to go into the talks with no conditions and committed ''in good faith to continue to negotiate until a settlement is reached'' and wanted leaders of the two sides to take into consideration the U.N. resolutions and agreements.

The G-8 communique said the Cyprus problem has gone unresolved for too long and noted that ''both parties to the dispute have legitimate concerns that can and must be addressed. The members of the G-8 are convinced that only comprehensive negotiations covering all relevant issues can do this.''

The communique called upon the two leaders to give their full support to such a comprehensive negotiation, under the auspieces of the U.N. Secretary- General. The members of the G-8 undertake to give their full and sustained backing to the negotiating process and hope that it will prove possible for its outcome to be reported to the meetings of Heads of State and Government at the OSCE Summit this November.

[08] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ELAZIG TO PARTICIPATE IN 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STARTING OF KEBAN DAM TO PRODUCTION

Addressing a ceremony staged for the 25th anniversary of the starting of Keban Dam to production, Demirel said these should be remembered to determıne new targets as Turkey enters into year 2000, addıng that Turkey was important than everthing for everybody.

Recalling that Keban was the starting of Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP), Demirel said electricity was the begining of civilization.

Demirel said ''we will carry out GAP and Eastern Project (DAP) together. Turkey is powerful enough to succeed in this. Turkey will continue to be contemporary and modern.''

Demirel, who was later briefed about Keban and GAP, said GAP project should be concluded within 10 years and noted that he proposed this to National Security Council (NSC).

President Demirel stressed that Constitutional change regarding ''arbitration and concession'' issues should be made, adding that ''we should not be insistent on arbitration and concession. The era has changed.''

[09] 'SUNSET AT APOLLO TEMPLE' CELEBRATION IN ANTALYA

Cengiz Haydar Barut, the Chairman of Side-Manavgat Promotion Group; Mehmet Karamanci, the Chairman of Manavgat Tradeand Industry Chamber Executive Board; Ahmet Barut, the Chairman of Mediterranean Hotel Managers Union and Nizamettin Sen, the member of Turkey Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB) told about the problems of they face to the journalists who attended the celebration.

It was stressed that the Side-Manavgat Promotion Group which was formed by the joint efforts of 26 hotels in Manavgat region was an important step to increase the tourism potential of the region.

The group targets to protect Side's unique history and natural resources and revitalize its tourism.

Fourty journalists including the Italian author Donetella Piyati, and Fikret Otyam attended the celebration.

A.A

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