TRKNWS-L TURKISH Daily News (January 23, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS /23 JANUARY 1996

[01] Ciller, Yilmaz start coalition talks

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- The DYP leader and caretaker Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz come together today for the first of what promises to be a tough series of talks for the formation of a government.

Both are under intense pressure from the media and businessmen to forget their bitter hostility and agree on a coalition between their center-right parties. The advocates of the "Motherpath," as the projected coalition is popularly dubbed, hope that it will block the path to a government led by the Islamist Welfare Party (RP) which left behind its mainstream rivals in last month's general election.

But the thorny issue of who will lead the coalition remains a serious obstacle to the partnership despite Ciller's optimism that the talks will produce the desired partnership between the two "sister parties." Addressing reporters on Monday, Ciller said the nation wanted an end to the quarrel (between the DYP and ANAP) and "it is time for everybody to overcome his ego."

But while searching for a government, Ciller stressed that "the rules and traditions of democracy should be heeded," indicating her continuing opposition to step down from her position to facilitate the partnership.

She repeated her views that an Islamist-led government would harm Turkey's interests, saying she was hopeful of a deal between her party and ANAP, "although it cannot be expected to be clinched in a day or two."

Deputy DYP Chairman Haluk Muftuler backed her call for a compromise, saying in an earlier news conference that a DYP-ANAP partnership might lead to a possible alliance for an early election -- favored by Ciller and opposed by ANAP and other parties -- and even to a merger between the two center-right parties.

But Yilmaz, talking to reporters in Istanbul before meeting with a visiting official from Japan's opposition New Horizons Party, took care to avoid a commitment in advance.

"Tuesday's search for a coalition is not the only option," Yilmaz said, in apparent reference to the possibility of a partnership between his party and the RP if talks with Ciller fail.

He said he was aware of the recent conciliatory moves from Ciller, but said it was too early to say whether it would be lasting.

Although RP leader Necmettin Erbakan -- assigned by President Suleyman Demirel to form the government earlier -- failed to find partners for his Islamists, only Yilmaz did not close the doors completely on an ANAP-RP coalition.

The Dec. 24 election, producing no clear winners, made a coalition essential with the RP capturing 158 of the 550 parliamentary seats, followed closely behind by the DYP and ANAP with 135 and 133 seats respectively.

Both Ciller and the DYP have publicly shown each other's parties as ideal coalition partners owing to their pro-Western outlook and commitment to a free market economy. But a longstanding rivalry, sharpened by bitter personal recriminations during the election campaign, torpedoed an earlier meeting soon after the poll.

Ciller, claiming the right to head a coalition with ANAP since the DYP has the larger number of seats, has turned down Yilmaz's calls for a partnership under a neutral politician, or a technocrat. Yilmaz, on the other hand, claiming precedence because of his party's slightly larger number of votes, has remained implacably opposed to allowing Ciller to keep the top government seat.

A rotating premiership, proposed as a compromise formula, meanwhile, has failed to break the impasse. In unofficial contacts between the aides of the two leaders, both sides differed on the issue of who would take the first turn to govern the country.

Getting assigned to the task of forming the government last Friday after Erbakan conceded defeat in his efforts, Ciller immediately started a campaign to defuse tensions, stressing the need for the two center-right leaders to forget the past for the sake of the country.

She also paid a visit on Sunday to Berna Yilmaz, the wife of the ANAP leader, recuperating at home after an operation. The visit was generally seen as a gesture of conciliation. Mrs.Yilmaz has publicly opposed an ANAP-RP coalition, jokingly saying she would divorce her husband if he set up a coalition with Erbakan.

[02] Ciller to demand the 'impossible'

By Kemal Balci

TDN Parliament Bureau

ANKARA- True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, who has been charged with forming a new government, will discuss the draft program of the "Motherpath" government she proposes with Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz during their meeting today.

The plan envisages Ciller as prime minister. During the meeting Yilmaz is expected to say that the problem of who is to be prime minister should be resolved first, and that if progress can be achieved on that issue it will be possible to proceed towards other issues, such as the program of the proposed government and the identity of the third partner of the coalition.

The dispute between the DYP and ANAP over who should be prime minister remains unresolved. This effectively kills Ciller's chances of forming a "Motherpath" government. So the real motive behind Ciller's moves is believed to be a desire to bolster the public perception of Yilmaz as the one preventing the proposed "Motherpath" coalition.

ANAP circles do not seem to have been impressed by Ciller's visit to Mesut Yilmaz's wife Berna. In an attempt to ease the atmosphere before meeting Mesut Yilmaz, Ciller paid a visit to his wife who is at home recovering from an operation. Ulku Guney, one of the acting chairmen of the ANAP Parliamentary Group, says, "Our determination regarding the Prime Ministry has not been shaken. And we see Ciller's recent visit as a case of opportunism."

ANAP officials say that there are strong indications that ANAP will form a coalition with the Welfare Party (RP), and that it was unrealistic for Ciller to try to impose herself as prime minister. They believe that even if Ciller proposed a rotational Prime Ministry the problem would not be solved. They say, "Unless Yilmaz gets the first term we do not see any purpose in even discussing the rotational system."

Meanwhile, in the ranks of the DYP, an increasing number now think that Ciller's strategy has been wrong, in particular the way she severed all ties with the RP right from the beginning. A leading DYP figure, Koksal Toptan, wants the party to try the proposed "Motherpath" as a model through which to bring about reunification of the center-right.

Toptan says: "A joint government must be formed with ANAP if that is going to bring a merger. A 'Motherpath' formed reluctantly, formed just because there is pressure from without on the two parties to form such a government, may not give the desired results. If, on the other hand, a flexibility can be achieved, the kind of flexibility that would pave the way to a merger, the issue of who would become the prime minister may lose its importance."

There are problems with not only the date but also the venue of the visit Ciller will be paying ANAP. Yilmaz delayed the proposed visit until Tuesday, saying that he had previous appointments. The two leaders are yet to determine the site for the meeting. While Ciller proposes Parliament as a venue, ANAP circles offer ANAP headquarters. Also, it is not certain whether the two leaders will be accompanied by their aides.

The disagreements on these details are seen as a sign of the coldness which dominates relations between the two. Party cadres have little hope that these hitches will be overcome. ANAP officials say that the primary aim of the meeting will be determining who will be prime minister. Meanwhile, DYP officials say that a brief draft government program has been prepared in line with principles debated at the DYP General Administrative Board meeting, and that this is the program that will be presented to Yilmaz.

If it becomes obvious by the end of the current week that the "Motherpath" is not feasible, RP-ANAP talks will resume as of the start of next week.

[03] Yeltsin thanks Turkey for freeing hostages

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Russian President Boris Yeltsin thanked President Suleyman Demirel in a written message on Monday for Turkey's help in freeing the Russian hostages kidnapped by pro-Chechen gunmen.

"The two countries should intensify their cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," said the Russian President in his message to Demirel.

Yeltsin also said that international terrorism is a threat against all humanity and that the two countries will always work together against it.

Caretaker Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said in a message to her Russian counterpart Viktor Chernomyrdin that the pro-Chechen gunmen who kidnapped passengers on the Avrasya ferry would be judged in accordance with Turkish law, adding that the two countries should intensify cooperation to ensure peace and provide peaceful solutions to terrorism.

As the investigation into the hijacking continues, the governor's office of Trabzon dismissed Ismail Kemerkaya, the director of the port of Trabzon, and Hacisalih Hacisalihoglu, the port's security chief, from their jobs.

Cetiner Kalayci, chairman of the Trabzon branch of the Dock Workers Union (Liman-Is), and Ahmet Cakir, chairman of the Mariners Union, said in a written statement that they protest the dismissal of Kemerkaya and Hacisalihoglu from their jobs, that there was no reason to dismiss them, and that they hope the two men would be returned to their jobs after the investigation is completed, the Anatolia news agency reported.

[04] Turkish proposal for Caspian oil pipeline on the table

TDN with Wire Services

ANKARA- Turkey's proposals concerning exporting Azerbaijani "early oil" via a pipeline connecting Baku and Supsa, known as the "western line," are to be taken up in the Azerbaijani capital today, the Anatolian news agency reported on Monday.

This pipeline is one of the two proposed to carry oil from under Azerbaijan's sector of the Caspian Sea to world markets.

The other is planned to run to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. Both would be used to ship the oil initially available under a multinational, multimillion-dollar project, with decisions to be made later regarding shipment of oil after the project is fully operational.

One of the Turkish proposals has the Baku-Supsa pipeline being laid on the "build-operate-transfer" model, known as BOT. An alternative Turkish proposal foresees Turkey providing the financing in the event that the international consortium of companies, established to process and market Azerbaijani oil, decides to build a pipeline itself.

The evaluation of the Turkish proposals by members of a company formed for constructing the pipeline -- which includes companies from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the multinational consortium -- is expected to be followed by a decision on the subject in the first week of February.

Anatolia quoted Ahmet Zeynalov, a senior executive from the Azeri Oil Company SOCAR, as saying there was no alternative to the Turkish proposals. Zeynalov reportedly said that preliminary contacts with five foreign companies, including TEKFEN from Turkey, had already begun.

Involved in the multinational consortium developing Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea crude reserves are 11 foreign companies, including the Turkish petroleum company TPAO. Output will average between 70,000 to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) for two years, but rise to 700,000 bpd by 2010.

By the middle of next year, part of the early crude oil exports from the $8 billion project should have started flowing through Russia and out of Novorossiisk through an already existing pipeline.

Meanwhile, the man behind a major trans-Balkan pipeline proposed to carry Russian, Azeri and Kazakh crude, which would cross the Black Sea from Novorossiisk by tanker, was quoted Monday as saying the pipeline could be a major supplier for oil-hungry Europe. However, he acknowledged that western companies, whose backing is vital, are cautious.

"The (trans-Balkan) pipeline will be economically viable, profitable and can successfully compete with existing oil transportation means from the Black Sea to western Europe and also to the U.S.," Reuters quoted Vuko Tashkovich as saying on Monday in support of his project, which came out well in a feasibility study late last month.

It is the long-term production from the Azerbaijani project and others in the Caspian basin which Tashkovich, the president of the Albanian, Macedonian and Bulgarian Oil Corp. (AMBO), is targeting as part of his plans to build and operate a trans-Balkan pipeline from the Black Sea to the Adriatic.

The company intends to build a 567-mile (913-km) pipeline from Bourgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast to Albania's Vlore on the Adriatic Sea, but only if it can win the backing of the foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and secure the support of Russian firms.

Tashkovich is up against several other proposals to secure the new crude exports from the former Soviet Union.

Turkey is lobbying fiercely for a long-term export route from Azerbaijan to its own Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. There are also rival proposals for a route from Bourgas to the northern Aegean port of Alexandroupolis in Greece.

"All the proposals need to be evaluated," an informed source close to the consortium of foreign oil companies in Azerbaijan told Reuters. "I would characterize it (AMBO) as one of many different possibilities for export out of the Caspian."

Tashkovich is undeterred by the competition. He argued to Reuters that the AMBO route would cut the cost of transporting former Soviet crude to refiners in the Mediterranean and the United States, as well as alleviate congestion in the already crowded Bosphorus strait.

"Our prices will be competitive with tankers," he told Reuters on Friday.

While he claims Azerbaijan and certain foreign lenders have expressed an interest in the route, he acknowledged this has not yet amounted to any sort of commitment, admitting the interest from the foreign oil companies has at best been lukewarm.

"The western oil companies are very cautious, especially Chevron (the major foreign operator In Kazakhstan). They are treading very carefully," Reuters quoted Tashkovich as saying.

The Azerbaijani oil consortium is not expected to decide on the long-term export route from the Caspian at least until next year.

[05] Iraq: We're all bored of sanctions

ANKARA- "The Turkish people are tired of the UN embargo on Iraq, which has been implemented for five years," said Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday from Washington.

Speaking to the CNN, Aziz stated that the U.N. embargo was tiresome, not only for the Iraqi people but also for Turks, Russians, the French and others.

Aziz said that Iraq's decision of occupying Kuwait was, in essence, a defensive act, adding that they had to enter Kuwait due to the economic blackmail of Arab countries and the military threats of the United States and Israel.

Iraq, which first rejected the offer of the UN on the limited oil sales, is now saying it wants to go ahead with the offer.

The U.S. sanctions constitute one of three aspects of U.S. strategy against Iraq. Operation Provide Comfort and the banning of Iraqi forces in certain areas of northern and southern Iraq are the other aspects of Washington's policy aimed at removing Saddam Hussein from power.

Before the embargo, Turkey traded widely with its neighbor, Iraq.

[06] Reinforcements for the Turkish troops in Bosnia

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Turkish troops are to be sent to the Zenica military base in Bosnia on Jan. 25 to reinforce the Turkish contingent currently stationed there as a part of the International Implementation Force (IFOR).

According to a written statement from the office of the Chief of General Staff released on Monday, the reinforcements will consist of artillery units, a mechanized infantry company, a tank company and a bomb disposal team.

With the arrival of the reinforcements, the number of the Turkish troops will be 1,500, enough for the contingent to be called a brigade.

The mechanized infantry company will provide security of the IFOR headquarters which is in the U.S. command area. The equipment and vehicles of the reinforcement contingent will be sent by ship to the Croatian port of Split. Two Turkish Airlines planes will fly the troops directly to Split.

A Turkish frigate, which is on patrol in the Adriatic Sea, and 18 F-16 aircraft, based in Italy at Ghedi Air Base, will also be placed under IFOR command.

[07] Ankara angry at Euro-Parliament resolution

ANKARA- Turkey criticized on Monday a resolution taken by the European Parliament last week as a "one-sided and hostile move." Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said that the resolution had "taken seriously the cease-fire call made by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) when the PKK had only a few days ago burned a bus of civilians."

The resolution, prepared by the Socialists, made a reference to the PKK ceasefire and called on Turkey to lift the emergency rule in the southeast.

"(This attitude) jeopardizes the credibility and the prestige of the European Parliament," Akbel said in a press conference Monday. "It is worrisome that the European Parliament can be so one sided and even use fake photos distributed to the Western media by the supporters of terrorism," he said.

He said the decision showed once more how much the European Parliament, which voted for the realization of customs union with Turkey last month, was influenced by "radical and militant circles" against Turkey.

"The Turkish people met this... hostile attitude with sorrow," Akbel said.