TRKNWS-L TURKISH Daily News (January 24, 1996)

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

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS

24 January 1996

[01] Ciller-Yilmaz meeting yields no breakthrough for coalition

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- The widely-awaited meeting between True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and Motherland Party (ANAP) chief Mesut Yilmaz on Tuesday dampened hopes for a center-right coalition by disagreeing on who should lead it first.

Emerging from the two-hour meeting, Ciller, heading the current caretaker coalition, said she had offered Yilmaz a coalition partnership based on a rotating premiership with each leader heading the government for half of the five-year term "like splitting an apple right down the middle." Ciller, saying she had already overreached the limits of the mandate her party had given her for a compromise, said she should take the first turn at leading the projected partnership, to ensure the continuity of government and so as not to hamper the steps taken for the settlement of the problems facing the country.

But Yilmaz disagreed at the joint press conference, saying he had told Ciller that the "nation wanted a change in the shopwindow," and that he had asked Ciller "to reconsider her views about the turns." "If this is not done, we have serious reservations about the chances for success of the new government, and I have told her (Ciller) that we would not want to be a party to it," Yilmaz said.

"I see no reason to be hopeful after this meeting, but also no reason for despair," the ANAP leader told the joint news conference. He pledged an answer before the end of the week after consulting with his party's executives.

"I told her to come forth with a new offer, assuming that our reply (to her taking the first turn) will be negative," Yilmaz said later.

But Ciller indicated her unwillingness to allow her former foe take the first turn. "Normally, the person asked to form the government heads it throughout its term," the DYP leader said to emphasize she had already made a sacrifice.

Ciller said she was confident that the talks, to be continued in a few days, would result in compromise, but conceded that Yilmaz had not agreed to the parallel discussion of the coalition program by their aides as the two leaders debated the "structure."

Another coalition to replace the outgoing right-left one Ciller headed for four years was dictated by the Dec. 24 general election which put the Islamist Welfare Party (RP) slightly ahead of the mainstream center-right rivals, but produced no clear winner. Necmettin Erbakan's RP bagged 158 of the 550 Parliament seats, while the DYP took 135 and ANAP 133 seats. The two rival social democrat parties trailed, with the Democratic Left Party (DSP) of Bulent Ecevit winning 75 seats and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal's Republican People's Party (CHP) getting 49.

President Demirel first assigned RP leader Erbakan to form the government, but he conceded defeat last week after failing to draw partners from the political mainstream to his Islamist party to form a coalition despite his efforts to downplay his party's strongly-Islamic campaign rhetoric and moderate its anti-Western stance.

Although Demirel then gave the task to incumbent Ciller, the RP leader did not give up all hope of leading an Islamist government for the first time in the republic's 72-year history, with Yilmaz signalling his willingness for a partnership if talks fail with the DYP.

Ciller, who categorically ruled out any dealing with the RP, immediately launched a drive for reconciliation with the ANAP leader, with whom she had engaged in bitter verbal duels before the poll. Changing tack after getting the mandate from President Demirel, she began highlighting the similarity of outlook of the "sister parties," both of which advocate close ties with the West and are committed to a market economy.

But she refused to yield from her insistence on holding on to her post as the prime minister.

The right to form a government under her premiership belonged to the DYP because it had more deputies in Parliament than ANAP, Ciller said when addressing her deputies shortly before her meeting with Yilmaz.

Citing similar situations in Austria in 1924 and Britain in 1951 she said that in these countries, parties had been appointed to form a government because they had more deputies than other parties which received more votes.

"The formulas for creating a government should obey democratic rules, and transitional models cannot be accepted," Ciller said, ruling out another speculated alternative under which a neutral person would head the DYP-ANAP coalition.

Ciller said a possible coalition between the DYP and ANAP would still require the support of a third partner.

For the third partner, Yilmaz has made clear his preference for Ecevit's DSP while Ciller has been trying to persuade the CHP of Baykal, her former government partner and foreign minister.

But the leaders of both those parties have made clear their reluctance to joining a center-right coalition, preferring to stay in opposition to build up strength.

Before the Ciller-Yilmaz meeting, the CHP leader told his party's lawmakers that he was hopeful that the two center-right leaders would overcome their differences to form a coalition, which, he said, he had striven to facilitate.

[02] Indonesia, Turkey, Portugal and Venezuela bourses boom

Turkish Daily News

ISTANBUL- The stock exchanges in Indonesia, Turkey, Portugal and Venezuela were among the fastest growing equity markets in the world between 1986-1993, according to a World Bank study presented in Istanbul.

The results of the study, "Stock Market Development and Financial Intermediaries" were disclosed in a talk by one of the coauthors, Asli Demirguc-Kunt, a World Bank economist, at a meeting at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) Monday.

In the study, first published in May 1995, the development of stock markets in 41 countries was examined and compared using a broad range of indicators, including market capitalization, liquidity, concentration, volatility, institutional development and international integration.

It was one of the reports on world stock market development that Demirguc-Kunt presented at the IMKB Monday.

"Stock markets in Indonesia, Portugal, Turkey and Venezuela experienced explosive developments in terms size, liquidity and international integration," the comparative study said, adding that between 1982 and 1993, world stock market capitalization grew from $2 trillion to $10 trillion, an average 15 percent a year.

"A disproportionate amount of this growth was in emerging stock markets, which rose from three percent of world stock market capitalization to 14 percent in the same period." The study found that the three most developed markets were in Japan, the Britain and the United States. The most undeveloped markets were Columbia, Nigeria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Malaysia, South Korea, and Switzerland also have highly developed stock exchanges, the report said.

Argentina, Greece, Pakistan and Turkey, the study found, had undeveloped markets, where only a tiny fraction of companies were listed and traded on stock markets.

It said markets tend to be more developed in richer countries, but many nations labeled "emerging," such as South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, were systematically more developed than many rich countries, including Australia, Canada and many European states.

Stock market development, it concluded, is closely related to development of banks, nonbank financial institutions (finance companies, mutual funds, and brokerage houses), insurance companies and private pension funds.

[03] PKK claimed to have 300 Syrian militants

ANKARA- Approximately 300 Syrians are claimed to be part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and Turkey, according to security reports.

These reports say that between the years 1987 and 1996, 125 militants of Syrian origin were among the PKK terrorists who were captured by Turkish forces or had surrendered.

Some of the Syrians who had been active in northern Iraq have left the terrorist organization to return to their country while some joined the Iraqi Kurdistan Democracy Party.

It is believed that there are 300 Syrians among the members of the PKK in northern Iraq and Turkey.

The PKK organizations in Syria, namely in Aleppo, Kamisli, Afrin, Ayn-el Arap, Kirmitlik, Ras-el Ayn and Derik, are purely made up of of Syrians, the same reports say.

Ankara's worries, heightened by the reports of intelligence sources, has led Turkish diplomacy to seek Israel's support regarding the fight against terrorism.

"We see that Syria is bargaining for its exclusion from the list of countries supporting terrorism after it signs a peace deal with Israel," a Turkish diplomat said. "We believe that its exclusion is only possible if they truly cease their support of terrorism." Syria, along with Iraq, Iran and Libya, is on the list of terrorist states, compiled by the United States. However, some Turkish officials point out that while the three countries are treated as international pariahs, Syria is "unduly cuddled" both by the United States and the European Union.

Ankara has asked for information both from Syria and Iran in relation to the seizure of six trucks, loaded with arms and ammunition, which was heading toward Lebanon through Syria. The trucks had been loaded in Iran.

Turkish officials believe that the arms were to be sent to one of the terrorist groups -- Hezbullah, Hamas or the PKK -- which have bases in Lebanon. Neither do they rule out the possibility that the arms were to be unloaded in Syria.

An official from the Iranian Embassy in Ankara told Anatolia news agency that they would give information to Ankara as soon as they have completed their own investigation. "This might be the work of two countries' common enemies," the official said, assuring that it was "out of question" that Iran would support the PKK.

[04] Israel looks to Turkey for water

ANKARA- The aggravating water shortage of Israel is likely to sharpen its interest in tapping Turkey's surplus resources, Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

Israel is particularly interested in buying water from the Manavgat river flowing into the Mediterranean, in the province of Antalya, when the project, involving the construction of a loading terminal at the mouth of the river is complete.

An earlier project Turkey tried to promote as a vehicle for Mideast peace never took off because of the financial costs and routing difficulties involved in siphoning water from the rivers Ceyhan and Seyhan to the Middle East through two separate pipelines.

Nurettin Nurkan, deputy spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, told a press conference last week that negotiations between Turkish and Israeli water experts were continuing on the Manavgat project.

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Rafi Boaz, chairman of Mekorot, Israel's water supply department, called on Israelis to conserve water. Boaz said that rainfall had increased the level of Kinneret Lake, which meets an important part of Israel's water needs, but pointed out that this was insufficient, because the level is lower than last year. He also said that water provided from the Jordan River was decreasing.

[05] Turkey sends equipment to beef up its Bosnia troops

KOCAELI- Turkey on Tuesday dispatched fresh military equipment to Bosnia in preparation to increase the number of its troops stationed in Zenica, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The material, sent aboard a ship which sailed to Split from the port of Derince near Istanbul, comprised of heavy equipment of a mechanized infantry company, a tank company, an artillery battery and a munitions team, the agency said.

A frigate will reportedly escort the transport vessel throughout its voyage.

Addressing the sending-off ceremony, Lt. General Rasim Bedir said Turkish troops were accustomed now to international peacekeeping duties, having fought under the UN banner in Korea and having served in Somalia before Bosnia.

The units which will reinforce the Turkish contingent in Zenica will be flown from Ankara on Thursday.

The reinforcements will raise the Turkish unit in Zenica to brigade strength and the number of the troops to 1,500, Anatolia said.

Turkey may play an added role to guard the peace in Bosnia as a possible country to provide training for the Bosnian Army under the terms of the Dayton Agreement.

[06] Baslik: Baykal denies government bargained with hijackers

ISTANBUL- Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) Chairman, Deniz Baykal, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, claimed on Tuesday that Turkey did not bargain with anyone to get the hijackers of the Avrasya ferry to surrender.

Speaking at a party meeting, Baykal said that all the efforts taken were done in order to bring the ferryboat affair to an end peacefully.

On Monday this week, a new factor was added to the case of the ferryboat Avrasya as suggestions surfaced about a possible middleman who might be an agent of the National Intelligence Service (MIT). The name of Selim Gosterisli arose when he was overheard talking on a wireless telephone with Muhammed Tokcan, the leader of the group which hijacked the Avrasya in Trabzon last week. He came forward Monday evening to deny rumors that he was a member of MIT but confirmed that he had indeed spoken with Tokcan. He also said he did what the government asked him to.

Gosterisli (34) appears to be a man of mystery who reportedly is from Eregli but lives and works in Ankara, although there is no telephone or business registered to his name in that city.

However, there are suggestions that he is from Duzce, where the weapons the hijackers used are said to have been from. In a televised interview, Gosterisli denied that he had purchased any weapons for the group and pointed out that anyone could buy them in that town.

The only connection which Gosterisli is said to have with MIT is that his name was on a list of possible middlemen which was prepared by that agency and offered to the hijackers. Muhammed selected his name from that list. He has also claimed to be a friend of Tokcan's family.

The ferryboat Avrasya, after letting its Trabzon-Sochi passengers off at the latter port, is presently on course to return to Trabzon. The nine hijackers who held the boat for 72 hours are to be tried in the State Security Courts at the very latest by February 1.

[07] Denktas rules out unilateral troop reduction

NICOSIA- Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas has ruled out any unilateral reduction in the number of Turkish troops on Cyprus.

Pointing out that Greek Cypriots are continuing a massive arms build-up, Denktas told the Turkish Cypriot daily "Birlik" (Union) that his people should not be expected to sacrifice their security.

The Greek Cypriot government has procured dozens of Greek-made armored personnel carriers and Russian infantry fighting vehicles in recent months. Denktas said the military preparations were "not an inducement to the Turkish Cypriots to consent to a reduction of Turkish forces.

"Had I been in their place, seemingly wanting a reduction and final withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus, I would have done the opposite of spending money on new arms and armaments," Denktas said.

U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali expressed renewed concern last month about the parties in Cyprus ignoring Security Council calls to significantly reduce the number of foreign troops and cut defense spending.

U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke is expected in Cyprus next month to launch what the United States terms a "big push" to find a settlement to the problem.

Efforts by the United Nations to reunite the island as a federation of the two communities have run aground and Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides have not met for more than a year.

Earlier this month Denktas told reporters that Holbrooke, who is widely credited with pushing through a peace agreement in Bosnia, should not try to impose a settlement on Cyprus.

[08] Denktas: If there's to be a solution on Cyprus, there has to be a new evaluation

The Greek Cypriots are spending $2 million a day on arms while talking about a demilitarized Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots expect Holbrooke to point out the contradiction in this to the Greek Cypriots.

By Gul Demir and Niki Gamm

Turkish Daily News

ISTANBUL- For 32 years now, the problem of the division of the island of Cyprus into a Greek and a Turkish Cypriot side has occupied the agenda of the United Nations and later of other international bodies.

The latest person to take up the issue is Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs. He is due to visit Cyprus the middle of next month.

Rauf R. Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, told the TDN in an exclusive interview, "We have no trepidations about such visits because we have always told everyone the truth and we are going to tell Holbrooke the truth. Our expectations are that he will listen, evaluate the facts for himself and then decide on the merits of the problem."

Denktas said that he had met Holbrooke on one occasion and he had been left with the impression that he was an outstanding upright statesman, a good listener and a good diplomat. The TRNC President scoffs at the people who try to make out that the upcoming visit is a threatening one. He simply says that Holbrooke will find out that the Greek Cypriots for 32 years have been doing to the Turkish Cypriots what the Serbian leaders have done to the Bosnians.

Greek Cypriots not legitimate government of whole island

Referring to the fact that Holbrooke is going to represent U.S. President Bill Clinton, Denktas points out that the latter is on record as saying that he is looking for a world based on the rule of law and on human rights.

"Under the rule of law, the Greek Cypriot administration on the island cannot be the legitimate government of the whole island; it cannot be the government of the Turkish Cypriots. We hope that he will notice this and underline this wrong that has been done to us for 32 years because his country has treated the Greek Cypriots as the legitimate government of Cyprus.

"As long as this wrong is not corrected, no one can expect the Greek Cypriots to make any compromises and establish a partnership state with us again.They destroyed the partnership in order to destroy the Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance which prevented them from achieving the union of the island with Greece. They tried this 32 years ago and now they feel they can achieve their goal through entry into Europe as a member. I hope Holbrooke will tell them that they cannot enter Europe while Cyprus is divided and if they do, it then means that they accept a permanent division of Cyprus and the talks are over."

The Greek Cypriots are spending $2 million a day on arms and armaments while talking about a demilitarized Cyprus, and Denktas expressed the hope that Holbrooke will point out the contradiction to Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides that one cannot arm in order to achieve disarmament. "So all in all we are looking forward to his visit because we have not been heard at his level for a long time."

Asked about the new Greek Prime Minister and government, Denktas made it clear that he and the Turkish Cypriots were glad that the Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis was not chosen to be Prime Minister. At the same time they were very aware that the Greek Cypriot side was downhearted about it. Denktas told the TND, "I don't think that gentleman is utterly responsible for what he says. I think he talks first and then he thinks.

Everything he has said about Turkey, about Cyprus, about his intentions or the intentions of Greece cannot be taken seriously because if this is really the policy of Greece then there is no hope."

New Greek PM "a responsible man"

As for the new Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Denktas said that he didn't know him "but he has a reputation for being a responsible man and a man of peace and reconciliation. I hope this is true because Greece needs such a statesman and if that is his target, peace and reconciliation, it may help Cyprus in the long run.

Arsimos' advisor, Prof. Yaloulis, was in Cyprus a few days ago and made a statement about Greece following the wrong path to finding a settlement based on talks through the United Nations and that from now on they are going to follow a dynamic policy.

Denktas noted that here is a people who have marshalled arms and armaments, and then this man tells the Greek Cypriots that within a few months the whole program of arming their side will be completed. "All the Greek Cypriot leaders have been following a policy of redeeming the North from the Turks, and when you add up all these things, it indicates only one thing and that there is no peace through negotiations. It is the opposite.

"People say they must be mad to resort to violence. Well, I don't make them out to be any madder than they were between 1955 and 1958 when they tried to unite the island with Greece, in disregard of the Turkish factor and the Turkish Cypriot factor. I don't think they need be any madder than they were when they destroyed the 1960 agreement in 1963 and continued until 1974.

"Then there's the madness of the colonels in staging a coup knowing that this was an invitation for Turkey to come to Cyprus. So if they do it again, I don't think they will do it because they are madder than previously. They will do it as a matter of course because they really believe that this is the way to success.

Playing the same game

"Don't forget that they are implementing a strategy on the Cretan model. For a short while there is silence, then violence and the result of that violence is getting certain things in their favor. Then a seemingly reconciled Crete, then violence again and getting more rights from the world. Then it was the League of Nations, all the big powers. Now it is Europe, again the big powers. So they are playing exactly the same game, and they think they can get away with it."

Denktas is aware that he is considered by many to be intransigent and he says that his answer is "I'm becoming a minority within my own community who believe in the achievement of a federal solution through the talks, because I have made so many sacrifices, so many concessions on and off without achieving a solution. Every concession I made, the Greek Cypriots pocketed and went on their own way.

"It is high time that people realize that the Greek Cypriot side does not need a solution because they have been told that they are the government of Cyprus. It is futile to press for sharing while the Greek Cypriots say that everything is theirs.

If everything is theirs, they have the right to come to the North and occupy it. If they have the right to tell us where to go and what to do, how can we really expect them to say yes to an agreement which will be an agreement for sharing power and sharing everything with them on a just and fair basis? So Europe has to look at this again and the U.S.A. has to rethink Cyprus. The old act has led us nowhere. If they want to lead us to a solution, they must rethink Cyprus."