Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-31

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[01] AA News

31 March 2000 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BOOM IN TUPRAS TENDER
A total of 477,829 applications were submitted for the tender opened to sell 15 percent of the shares of Turkish Oil Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS). The preliminary demand of the investors reached 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. This amount is four times bigger than the amount that will be sold. The definite demands will be collected between April 5 and 7. The quotation of prices will be announced on April 2.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FAMILIES MOVING IN PREFABRICATED HUTS IN BOLU
Thirteen tent-sites which were set up in Bolu following the devastating quake that hit this province on November 12, 1999, started to be evacuated. Nearly 2,000 families who were living in these tent-sites, moved into prefabricated huts. Officials of the Provincial Crisis Desk said that the crisis has ended in Bolu and they are trying to turn into their normal daily lives in Bolu.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

GIANT PARTNERSHIP IN GSM TENDER
The Bilgin-Medya Group joined the Koc Holding and the SBC consortiuum which is taking joint steps for the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) licence. The collection of bids for the GSM 1800 tender will be concluded on April 3. The Koc Holding will have 80.4 percent share, the Bilgin Group will have 19.6 percent share. The partner company including the Koc Holding, Bilgin Group and the SBC, is named as KOCTEL Telecommunication Services Inc.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

BOMB ATTACK TO DIE
A bomb which was left at the State Statistics Institute's (DIE) Istanbul Regional Directorate, and another bomb which was left in front of Istanbul Pension Fund Office, were rendered ineffective. A suitcase which was left in the Pension Fund Office and which had a bomb in it, was detonated by the police. The box which was left in the DIE Directorate and which included a time-bomb, was defused by the security forces. There was a piece of cloth written ''DHKP/C'' (an illegal extreme leftist organization) on it beside the box.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

MOBILIZATION FOR INFLATION
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Exporters Assembly of Turkey (TIM) launched a joint campaign with the aim of providing support of public opinion in struggle against inflation. The campaign named ''Turkey Overcomes Inflation'' aims at making the public opinion conscious of inflation. All the communication means, including the radio and the internet, will be used for this campaign.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

FP LEADER KUTAN:
''WE ARE OPEN TO COMPOMISING UNDERSTANDING''
Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), said that the FP is the most comfortable party at the moment and that they are waiting for the developments. Evaluating the results of the first-round voting of the constitutional amendment, Kutan noted that they will take into consideration every step that the government will take. Kutan noted that they have not closed their doors and they are open to negotiations.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CARKIN ARRESTED
Ayhan Carkin, a former special team policeman and one of the suspects of the 'Susurluk' case, was arrested within the framework of an interrogation launched into the sale of a building plot in Erdek township of Balikesir province. Cakir, visited Ibrahim Sahin, who was also involved in the Susurluk case and who was injured a traffic accident two days ago. The police arrested Cakir during his visit and put him in the Bursa Prison.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

SECURITY OF TOURISTS TO BE DISCUSSED
The governors, chiefs of police departments, and gendarme commanders of nine provinces, including Antalya, Izmir, Aydin and Mugla, will come together under the chairmanship of Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister. The participants will discuss the measures to be taken prior to the touristic season.

-ISRAELI NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER DEPARTS FROM TURKEY
ISTANBUL - Admiral Yedidia Ya'ari, the Israeli Naval Forces Commander, departed from Turkey on Friday.

Ya'ari, who paid an official visit to Turkey as the official guest of Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the Naval Forces Commander, left for his country after wrapping up his contacts in Turkey.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT IN INDIA
NEW DELHI - Prime minister Bulent Ecevit arrived Thursday evening in the Indian capital New Delhi. The official welcoming ceremony for Ecevit was held on Friday at the Presidential Palace.

State Ministers Abdulhaluk Cay and Edip Safter Gaydali, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Turkey's Ambassador to India Yusuf Bulut, various members of the Parliament, and Indian officials attended the ceremony.

Ecevit, to whom journalists handed over a microphone following the ceremony, said that he had been wishing to see India since he was a child, and thus he was very happy to be there in the end.

In reply to a question by an Indian reporter about what his views were on cross-border terrorism, Ecevit said that Turkey had long been suffering terrorism, adding that ''We are determined to continue to fight against this menace within the framework of human rights and democracy.''

After the official welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Ecevit and his spouse Rahsan Ecevit proceeded to Rajgat to lay a wreath on the tomb of Mahatma Ghandi.

Ecevit also signed the monument's special book, and put down the following lines:

''I am honoured to express my own and my people's feelings of respect and admiration towards the life and personality of Ghandi. We shall embrace with love, the memories of great philosophers and politicians, who want peace to prevail on earth.''

Ecevit then proceeded to the Tac Palace Hotel reserved for his residence, and got together with Indian State Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs Ajit Kumarpanja.

[03] TURKISH CYPRIOT HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR LEUKAEMIA BOY

Minister of Health and Environment Gulsen Bozkurt said in a statement on Thursday that blood donation campaigns would be started on Friday at the Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital's Thalassemia Center for 6 year old Andreas Vasiliu and 12 year old Kemal Saracoglu.

Bozkurt pointed out that the campaign would be carried out in coordination with the Faculty of Medicine of the Istanbul University, and that blood samples to be acquired in Turkey would be scanned under the inspection of Prof. Mehmet Carin, Head of the Medical Biology Department.

Bozkurt said that all samples tested, will be considered for not only Andreas and Kemal, but also for other sufferers of the disease.

[04] GENERAL DANDIN, HEAD OF GENERAL STAFF'S PLANNING AND PRINCIPLES DEPARTMENT: - ''WE HAVE SOME EXPECTATIONS FROM THE U.S, WHICH IS OUR STRATEGICAL PARTNER''

Dandin spoke in the ''Defense and Foreign Policy'' session of the Turkish- American Council 19th Meeting.

Dandin listed these expectations as the erasing of the military assistance loan debts that the U.S. had given to Turkey, not having problems in arms transfer, the guarantee on the transfer of the U.S. arms to third countries, the minimizing of the prices of the defense materials purchased from the U.S., and the U.S.' providing its necessary military equipment in the region from Turkey.

Reminding his listeners that Turkey awarded the U.S. companies in the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar arms purchase program, Dandin noted that these companies were also included in the tenders of some projects, the total value of which were 12.2 billion U.S. dollars.

Dandin stated that some problems are faced in the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement which was signed between Turkey and the U.S. in 1980.

Later, this agreement turned into a military assistance loan, and it totally lost its effect in 1999, Dandin stressed.

Dandin emphasized that the U.S. limited the arms transfer to Turkey by imposing some preconditions including Cyprus, Greece, and human rights.

''We cannot see any limitation in the U.S.-made weapons which exist in the disarmed islands in the Aegean,'' Dandin said.

Dandin said that Turkey, which is a non-European Union (EU) country, should also be included in the European Security and Defense Initiative (ESDI).

Turkey welcomes her new position as a EU candidate country, but this candidacy is not an advantage within the framework of the ESDI, Dandin noted.

Dandin stated that Turkey's trade loss was 35 billion U.S. dollar due to the Gulf War and that this loss should be considered as a reality that can affect Turkey's attitude in similar situations in the future.

Stating that the dialogue between Turkey and Greece which was launched in the level of foreign ministres was pleasing, Dandin pointed out that however, Greece has not responded in affirmative to the military good will measures in the Aegean which was proposed during Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's visit to Turkey.

There are not any changes in the military relations between Turkey and Greece, the Turkish planes are harrassed in the Aegean, military maneouvres are exercised in holidays despite the agreements signed between two countries, and the armament continues, Dandin said.

Dandin noted that Greece thinks that there is not any other problem in the Aegean except the continential shelf problem and that Turkey continues to have good will to solve the problems in the near future.

Dandin also stated that Turkey considers Russia as a cooperation partner rather than an enemy which it can compete with and that Turkey and Russia exerts joint efforts to improve the security in the Black Sea, Caucasus, and Central Asia.

The Russian-Chechen conflict in the Caucasus can spread to the regional countries, including Turkey, and Chechnya can turn into a country like Afghanistan, Dandin stressed.

Dandin warned that a fundamentalist state can occur in Northern Caucasus, including some parts of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Turkey does its best to make better its relations with Armenia, Dandin emphasized.

Dandin said, ''on one hand, Armenia wants to have good relations with Turkey. But on the other hand, it tries to use the historic allegations which have not yet been proved, as a source of political oppression against Turkey. This policy will worsen the present situation.''

The biggest risk in the Middle East is the fundamentalism and terrorism, Dandin noted.

Dandin stated that everybody hopes that the results of the elections in Iran can bring forward better relations and that a better coordination in security and tourism can be provided.

Turkey is against Iraq's separation, Dandin stressed.

Dandin emphasized that Turkey has had to struggle against PKK terrorism and fundamentalism for 15 years.

''People can ask us why it took so much time to overcome these threats against our security, territorial integrity and regime. The answer is so easy. It took so much time due to our respect in human rights and the foreign assistance to these acts of terrorism,'' Dandin pointed out.

Dandin said that Turkey wants to benefit from the opportunities in its relations with Syria, including the military field, and that Turkey expects similar positive approaches from Syria.

The relations between Turkey and Israel carry importance for the regional security, Dandin noted.

Dandin stated that Turkey is being criticised for these relations.

However, this is considered as a very low price for the ensurement of the regional peace and stability, Dandin added.

[05] TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING

The awards were presented to the ambassadors by the co-presidents of the ATC, Mustafa Koc and Nancy Kasebaum Baker.

Ambassador Ilkin said that Turkey's economy was growing with an increasing speed, and this found its reflections on Turkey's relations with the United States. He pointed out that the political, economic, and cultural cooperation relations between the two countries were also strengthening, and eventually, relations had reached a point at which they could be qualified as a ''strategic partnership''.

Ilkin said that he expected U.S. investors to take greater interest in the opportunities that Turkey has to offer, particularly after the implementation of the economic reforms.

Ambassador Parris in his part said that many of the targets to which he had pointed in a speech he had made back in 1998 had been reached over the past two years. He pointed out that the United States welcomed the Human rights reform package that State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik introduced in January, and added that they expected Turkey to put this package into implementation in the shortest time possible.

Parris added that Turkey's efforts and steps she had taken recently towards bettering her human rights record, fighting againt high inflation rate and improving her relations with Armenia and Greece were worth appreciating.

[06] ANAP LEADER YILMAZ: - ''AFTER PREMIER ECEVIT RETURNS TO TURKEY, LEADERS' SUMMIT WILL BE HELD''

Responding to the questions of the journalists, Yilmaz said that the government has been stable and exerted stable initatives until today.

Yilmaz added that he is in favour of the continuation of the coalition government.

[07] TURKEY TO FURTHER DEVELOP TRADE WITH 13 AMERICAN STATES

Robert Byrd, Democrat Senator from West Virginia, who spoke at the signing ceremony, said that Turkish and American businessmen were aiming at strengthening commercial ties, as they stated in the declaration of intent.

The thirteen American States are West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.

The declaration was signed by Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S Baki Ilkin, U.S Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris, Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen, and the parliament members from the aforementioned states.

[08] AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TURKEY ORGANIZATION HOSTS RECEPTION FOR TURKISH- AMERICAN COUNCIL

After the fashion show of Atil Kutoglu, a Turkish designer, the messages of President Suleyman Demirel and U.S. President Bill Clinton were shown through the screens.

Demirel stated that the relations between Turkey and the U.S. improved by the high-level contacts last year.

The 21st century has brought significant roles to Turkey, Demirel noted.

Demirel added that the private sector is the motivation of the bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.S.

Clinton noted that he was pleased to experience the warm feelings and hospitality of the Turkish people and to see the beauties of Anatolia and Istanbul during his visit to Turkey.

He was affected by the struggle of the Turkish people to heal the wounds following the quake which hit Turkey in August, Clinton added.

Clinton reminded the participants that Turkey and U.S. exert joint initiatives in many fields.

Turkey and U.S., as two allies, exert joint initiatives for the stability and peace in the Balkans and against the Iraqi threat, Clinton stated.

Clinton stressed that the commercial relations between two countries gradually improve and that two countries try to establish an energy corridor between east and west.

He welcomes the developments that Turkey has recorded in its relations with Greece, Clinton emphasized.

Clinton said that the U.S. supports Turkey's European Union (EU) candidacy.

Later, Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister, said that the long-term Turkish-American cooperation depends on mutual trust.

Gurel noted that there are some uneasiness regarding Cyprus question.

That there are two sides on Cyprus should not be forgotten, and the equality principle should be taken as a basis, Gurel stated.

Gurel added that Cyprus should not negatively affect the Turkish-American relations.

Mustafa Koc and Nancy Kasebaum Baker, the co-presidents of the Turkish- American Business Council, and William Daley, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, were granted the ''distinguished leadership award.''

[09] MARROW SEARCH FOR LEUKAEMIA BOY

Prof. Mahmut Carin, Head of the Medical Biology Department told the A.A reporters that they found 16 persons, among the 56 thousand blood samples scanned, to be compatible for Vasiliu in the preliminary tests, and that these people were taking more tests for further assessments.

He said that ten of these 16 people had already taken the tests, that the remaining six were understood to be outside Istanbul, but that they would arrive in Istanbul soon, for further assessments.

Carin said there was yet nothing new.

[10] BANK CREDITS VOLUME INCREASES 62.3 TRILLION TL

The total credit volume at banks was 20 quadrillion 688.2 trillion TL on March 10.

The Central Bank data shows that the total credits in the system was composed of 1 quadrillion 253.5 trillion TL of loans given to financial sector and 19 quadrillion 500.9 trillion TL of loans given to non-financial sector as of March 15.

The credits given to financial sector were composed of 620.9 trillion TL of loans given by deposit banks, 625.3 trillion TL of loans given by development and investment banks and 7.3 trillion TL of loans given by the Central Bank.

[11] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - CURRENT BALANCE DEFICIT WAS 1.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS LAST YEAR

The Central Bank said on Friday that the current balance which had a surplus of 1 billion 984 million U.S. dollars in 1998, had 1.364 billion U.S. dollar deficit this year.

The exports revenues decreased 1.4 percent, the luggage trade recessed 38.9 percent, and the import expenditures, including the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF), fell 11.4 percent in 1999.

Thus, the foreign trade deficit stagnated 26.5 percent.

(To be continued)

[12] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

The foreign trade deficit was 14 billion 220 million U.S. dollars in 1998.

The Central Bank said on Friday that Turkey's current balance deficit was 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in 1999.

The net revenues gained from other goods and services and reciprocal transfers, decreased 43.9 percent to 9 billion 83 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey's export revenues recessed to 29 billion 326 million U.S. dollars, including the 2 billion 255 million U.S. dollar luggage trade.

The export revenues were 31 billion 220 million U.S. dollars in 1998, including 3 billion 689 million U.S. dollar luggage trade.

The tourism revenues fell 16.1 percent to 5 billion 203 million U.S. dollars in 1999.

The tourism revenues was 7 billion 177 million U.S. dollars in 1998.

The interest revenues increased 5.3 percent to 2 billion 350 million U.S. dollars in 1999.

The workers' incomes decreased 15.2 percent to 4 billion 576 million U.S. dollars in 1999.

The net direct investments recessed 16.7 percent to 783 million U.S. dollars.

The long-term currency loan usages decreased from 11 billion 505 million U.S. dollars to 11 billion 36 million U.S. dollars.

The principal money repayments increased from 8 billion 174 million U.S. dollars to 10 billion 560 million U.S. dollars in 1999.

The deposit bank accounts increased 370 million U.S. dollars while the official reserves climbed 5 billion 615 million U.S. dollars last year.

The increase in official reserves was 216 million U.S. dollars in 1998.

Turkey used 806 million U.S. dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while only paid back 286 million U.S. dollar loan in 1999.

(The End)

[13] INDIAN PRESIDENT NARAYANAN RECEIVES PREMIER ECEVIT

Usha Narayanan, Indian President's wife; Rahsan Ecevit, wife of Premier Ecevit; Edip Safter Gaydali and Abdulhaluk Cay, the State Ministers; Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister; and the parliamentarians accompanying Ecevit participated in the meeting.

Later, the meeting was closed to the press.

Following the meeting, Ecevit, his wife Rahsan Ecevit, the ministers and deputies joined the luncheon given in their honour by Narayanan.

[14] A.A'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDED

Mehmet Guler, President of the Executive Board and Director General of the A.A, said that the A.A was closely following up the latest technologies, and that the WAP system was soon to be put into operation within this framework.

Guler said that the year 1999 had been a year of big strides for the Agency, that the A.A had started making use of the latest technologies and providing information to internet companies, in addition to newspapers, magazines, radios, and tv stations, and that it was now ready to implement the WAP technology.

Guler said that the net income of the Agency had constantly been increasing since he took office, and that it would continue to increase in the year 2000. Guler added that among the prospects of the Agency for the year 2000 was the digitization of news items and picture archives.

Later on in the General Assembly, the new members of the Executive and Auditing Boards were elected.

Mehmet Guler, Turan Yavuz, Sevgi Ulusay, Deniz Solen, and Murat Ali Sakal were elected for the Executive Board, and Osman Yazici and Cem Avci for the Auditing Board.

[15] DIE ANNOUNCES GROWTH RATE IN 1999 AS -6.4 PERCENT

The growth rate in the last quarter of 1999 became -6.1 percent.

DIE announced the results of gross national product (GNP) in 1999 and in the last quarter of 1999.

DIE said the GNP with current prices in 1999 was 78 quadrillion 242 trillion 496 billion Turkish Liras (TL), and the growth rate with current prices was 46.2 percent, and -6.4 percent with fixed prices.

DIE announced that the GNP per person 2,878 U.S. dollars.

DIE said the GNP with current prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 became 23 quadrillion 698 trillion 141 billion TL while the growth rate with current prices was 48.5 percent, and -6.1 percent with fixed prices.

[16] PKK MEMBER CAPTURED IN GERMANY

The Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe said in a statement it made on Friday that the 35 year old Hasso S. was the ''Germany coordinator'' of the outlawed organisation.

The statement also said that an arrest warrant against him had been issued back on March 2nd, that the said person had been in charge of Cologne, Bonn, Essen, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Dortmund, and that he would be tried on the charge of being a member of a terrorist organization.

[17] INDIAN PRESIDENT NARAYANAN RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT

The meeting focused on relations between Turkey and Greece, the Cyprus question, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), and relations between Turkey and India.

The dialogue between President Narayanan and Prime Minister Ecevit is briefly as follows:

Ecevit : ''Turkey and India have key roles in the process of Eurasia. Many agreements can be signed between Turkey and India. A cooperation between the two countries can reveal that the West and the East can be united with each other. As cooperation agreements between Turkey and India develop, relations between the two countries will further improve.

Narayanan: ''Our businessmen have undertaken the oil-prospecting project in Kazakhstan. We can cooperate in Kazakhstan. What is the latest situation in Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project?''

Ecevit : ''It has come to the final stage. Relations between Turkey and India will further improve after the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project is finalized.''

Narayanan: ''Your premiership is a great chance for Turkey.''

Ecevit : ''The Pakistani administration wants to set up dialogue with you to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem.''

Narayanan: ''The most important thing for us is to put an end to the terrorist activities in Kashmir. We expect Pakistan to take concrete steps to prevent use of force.''

Ecevit : ''Pakistan expressed its concerns over India's armament.''

Narayanan: ''There is a small increase in amount allocated to armament from the budget.''

Ecevit : ''I would like to brief you on our relations with Greece. It seems that a new climate emerged between the two countries. But the main issues have not been taken up yet. We have never made Turkey-Greece relations a material of internal politics. Concrete steps will be taken between Turkey and Greece following the elections in Greece. Undeniable facts should be recognized to find a solution to the Cyprus question. This fact is the presence of two states on the island. I do not mean a diplomatic recognition, but I mean recognition of facts.''

Narayanan: ''What I understood from your statement is that many countries had begun to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) gradually.''

Ecevit : ''A number of European academicians are working at the universities on Cyprus. Diplomas given by these universities are being accepted in many countries. A contact between Turkey and India in the field of education will be beneficial. We are learning from your reconciliation culture. Your government is a 22-party coalition. In Turkey, there are three coalition partners working in great harmonization.''

Narayanan: ''But the latest constitutional amendment was not adopted by the parliament.''

Ecevit : ''Yes, I am not pessimistic. Meanwhile, you have a special place for the Turkish people because you served as Indian Ambassador to Turkey.''

Narayanan: ''We closely monitor your relations with the EU. You will improve relations with the EU and become a full member in short period of time.''

Ecevit : ''Yes, we are trying to improve relations.''

[18] KDP DELEGATION'S CONTACTS IN ANKARA

Sources close to the KDP delegation told the A.A correspondent that the Foreign Ministry told the delegation that Ankara was disappointed with refusal of Turkish firms' bids for humanitarian aid equipment tender of the United Nations to meet requirements of Northern Iraq.

The KDP delegation told the Foreign Ministry officials that the tender was opened by the United Nations' Headquarters in Baghdad.

The Turkish side expressed its concerns over the news reports saying that there were initiatives to found an independent state in Northern Iraq.

The KDP delegation conveyed the message that they did not aim at founding an independent state, and that there were always good relations between KDP and Turkey.

At the meetings, issues of border security and trade at the Habur border gate were also taken up.

The same sources added that the KDP was satisfied with the meetings.

[19] PREMIER ECEVIT SPEAKS IN TURKISH-INDIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING

Speaking in the Indo-Turkish Business Council meeting, Premier Ecevit, who is currently in India, said that ''I very much hope that the meetings of today will lead to concrete results, and that the entrepreneurs of both countries will now achieve a better evaluation of the great potentials that our countries have to offer.''

Ecevit said that it was the right time to identify new areas of cooperation that will augment the bilateral trade, foster the economic relations, and lead the two countries forward to joint-projects in third countries.

''Indeed, there is an ongoing convergence of interests between our two countries...Briefly the fact that we do not have any political dispute and the reciprocal warm feelings we hold to each other as Turks and Indians, should herald the advent of a new era in our relations. Yet I have to say that the level of our economic relations are far from being staisfactory. The volume of our trade lags far behind the existing potential, and our trade is not well-diversified. Indeed, a mere 350 million dollars in 1998, can not be regarded a significant sum measured against the global economy of today. Of course, the reason for this low volume of exchange is not lack of aptitude or desire. After all, both the Turks and the Indians trade with the world. The truth is neither the Turkish nor the Indian businessmen have been aware enough about the opportunities. Thus we must first address this problem and start to know each other better. In this endeavour, you will find both governments encouraging. In so far as opportunities are concerned, there are many. For instance, several gigantic infra-structure projects that will be materialized in the near future in both Turkey and India represent an untapped opportunity. Hence the construction sector is especially promising. Let me remind you that the Turkish construction companies have been very successful in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Russian Federation and Central Asian countries. Their portfolio exceeds 40 billion dollars, and they employ more than 50,000 people in 39 countries worldwise. These figures denote no less than a share of 10 percent of the global contracting sector,'' said Ecevit.

Noting that the Indian people also have been writing many success stories, Ecevit said India is the largest democracy on earth.

''While we strongly desire to augment the level of our economic relations, I should note that the prospect of technological cooperation with India is particularly exciting for us. In this regard, hardware and software technologies are only one of the many opportunities we clearly depict,'' he said.

Ecevit stressed that Turkey is a fast growing economy, adding ''the rate of Turkish economic growth has averaged 5 percent during this decade. Turkey is the 16th largest economy in the world.''

Turkey is ready to share her experience in the industry with India, said Ecevit and he gave statistical information about the Turkish economy.

The negative effects of the global crisis have been largely overcome without any serious damage to the economy, Ecevit stressed.

''Istanbul is rapidly becoming a great metropolitan city with world- class facilities and cultural life. The regional headquarters of many multi- national companies are located in this city straddling Europe and Asia. Such developments also demonstrate that Turkey will increasingly be an important actor in the global economy of the new century. We resolutely pursue an economic reform programme aimed at curbing inflation down to the levels commensurate with the Maastricht criteria within three years,'' he said.

Ecevit noted that ''by virtue of the historical decision reached at the Helsinki summit last December, Turkey is an official candidate of an equal- footing with other candidate countries. In economic terms, Turkey is already better aligned with the EU than other candidate countries. Five years ago, we have completed a customs union with the EU.''

''Indian firms can take advantage of this status of Turkey in reaching the richer consumer markets of an enlarging Europe. Likewise, the Eurasian process offers a vast area of cooperation for our two nations as Europe and Asia become parts of a larger whole,''Ecevit ended his words.

A.A

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