Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-13

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

13 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL CONSIDERS THE PARTICIPATION OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK IN LIBYAN OFFICIAL PARADE AS A REGRETFUL INCIDENT

[02] GREEK CYPRIOTS IN TRNC FOR A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY

[03] ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FROM WORLD BANK - GEF FUND TO DONATE 8.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT A PROJECT FOR ADMINISTRATION OF AREAS UNDER PROTECTION

[04] A MEETING WHICH DISCUSSES TURKEY IS HELD IN THE NETHERLANDS

[05] VIOLATION OF TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS - TWO ITALIANS AND ONE ALBANIAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATING TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS

[06] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 13 SEPTEMBER 1998

[07] GREEK COAST GUARD FIRES WARNING SHOTS TO A TURKISH FISHING BOAT

[08] THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITH BUILT-OPERATE-TRANSFER MODEL WHILE DARDANELLES BRIDGE BY FOREIGN LOANS

[09] OZSOY, MINISTER OF HEALTH, LEAVES FOR COPENHAGEN

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''75 MILLION DOLLARS WERE SPENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BIGGEST PORT OF TURKEY IN THE BLACK SEA REGION, WHICH IS ERDEMIR PORT''

[11] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANCY - NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ESCAPE TO GREECE FROM MUGLA INCREASES TO 1,146 IN LAST 8.5 MONTHS

[01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL CONSIDERS THE PARTICIPATION OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK IN LIBYAN OFFICIAL PARADE AS A REGRETFUL INCIDENT

Responding to questions of journalists concerning the issue, President Suleyman Demirel said that Turkey attributes importance to the friendly Libyan people, however Muammar al-Quaddafi, the Libyan leader has been issuing such statements for a long time which make Turkey uneasy.

Recalling that Turkish and Libyan people were administrated by the same state for a long time, President Demirel added that ''Mr Qaddafi does things that make Turkey uneasy, I can't say that we don't consider them as important, because he is the leader of a state. We are sorry about his statements and attitude, too. The thing which we don't understand is what he tries to do or achieve by his attitude towards us. ''

[02] GREEK CYPRIOTS IN TRNC FOR A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY

Greek Cypriots, who started to enter to the TRNC from the Ledra Place Border Gate, left for Dipkarpaz with 31 buses and one minubus, which were all provided by TRNC after being registered by TRNC officials.

Greek Cypriots living in Dipkarpaz, TRNC also joined the Greek Cypriots coming from the southern part of the island, who will return to the Greek Cypriot side the same evening after finishing their ceremony at the monastery.

Both TRNC officials and the Greek Cypriot police took very strict measures to ensure the safety of the visit.

Meanwhile a group of Greek Cypriots held a demonstration, but later they dispersed. There are people in the Greek Cypriot side who oppose to this visit, because they think it means recognition of TRNC.

[03] ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FROM WORLD BANK - GEF FUND TO DONATE 8.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT A PROJECT FOR ADMINISTRATION OF AREAS UNDER PROTECTION

The Global Environmental Facilities (GEF) fund, which is controlled by the World Bank, decided to support the implementation of the project which was prepared within the framework of the ''administration of the protected areas''. The GEF, within this framework, will donate 8.2 million US dollars for the project foreseeing the sustainable administration and planning of natural ecosystems like islands, canyons, watery and marshy lands having intense plant covers.

The project, for which the Ministries of Environment and Forestry will be responsible, will be implemented on the Camili island in Artvin province in the Black Sea Region; in the Koprulu Canyon in southern Antalya province and on the Igneada island in Kirklareli province in the Thracian Region.

The Ministries of Environment and Forestry target to conclude the project within five years.

Meanwhile, a French consultant company started in Turkey its preliminary etudes for the project which will start in 1999.

[04] A MEETING WHICH DISCUSSES TURKEY IS HELD IN THE NETHERLANDS

University professors Prof. Dr. Dogu Ergil, Murat Belge, the Chairwoman of ''Kader,'' a civilian women's organization, journalists and representatives of various NGOs participated in the meeting as speakers.

Addressing the meeting, Prof. Dr. Ergil said that the separatist terrorist organization PKK constitutes the biggest impediment that stands against the solution of the Southeastern problem, adding that ''the separatist terrorist organization oppresses all Kurdish people and Kurdish intellectuals. I was also threatened when I was studying on my research.''

Abdurrahman Dilipak, a writer of a religious newspaper claimed that muslim people who wish to use their religious rights and freedoms have troubles in Turkey.

Sirin Tekeli, the Chairwoman of ''Kader,'' gave information about the struggle they carry out concerning women's rights. Noting that several rights which were given to women during the foundation of the Turkish Republic, can not be fully implemented today, Tekeli said that the percent of women deputies in the Turkish parliament is only 2,4 percent and it is the lowest among the countries which are member to the European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (COE).

Murat Belge discussed in his part the importance of the civilian organization for installation of democracy in one country.

[05] VIOLATION OF TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS - TWO ITALIANS AND ONE ALBANIAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATING TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS

Gendarme of Izmir province said that when people who were in the Greek flagged ship, namely ''Thomas-II,'' started to talk with cellular phone continiously, the Coast Guard was informed about the situation.

Then, the Coast Guard stopped the Greek-flagged Thomas-II yacht and took Pastro Polsybo, Giovanni Vociano, both from Italy, and Cristo Ziu, of Albanian, in for questioning, according to a statement from the paramilitary police.

They had anchored near an Aegean coastal area close to Kusadasi that is reserved for military training.

The men told the police they lost their way because of an electrical failure on the yacht during the night and thought they were at the Greek island of Samos.

The three were scheduled to appear in court later in the day. The Italians and Albanian person will be tried for not having passports with them and for violating the Turkish territorial waters.

[06] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 13 SEPTEMBER 1998

Nearly 13 million students and 500 thousand teachers will start the new school year.

In the new school year, almost 1.3 million students will live the enthusiasm of studying the primary school for the first time.

KAHRAMANMARAS - Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, the son of Jordanian King Hussein I, arrived in Kahramanmaras province on Saturday.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, came on Thursday to Turkey in order to proceed to the Adigene, Georgia, to attend the ''Circassian Festival'' on 29 September.

ANKARA - French cyclists Benjamin Voron and Nicolas Sirot, who are touring the world, arrived in Turkey on Saturday.

The French cyclists will pedal for 24 thousand kilometers, touring 25 countries.

After Turkey, the French cyclists will tour Egypt, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Birmania, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brail, Morocco, Spain.

KOLN - Mustafa Tasar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, who currently holds his contacts in Germany, met on Saturday with the Turkish people living in Koln.

Tasar informed Turkish people about the issue of retirement.

ISTANBUL - Ernesto Perez Balladares, the President of Panama, who had come to Turkey to spend his holiday, left Turkey on Sunday.

The Panamanian President visited the historical and touristic sites in Istanbul during his two-day private visit.

BODRUM - The ''Megane Wagon'' type automobiles of the Renault will be introduced to Turkish market by 25 September, it was reported on Sunday.

The Megane Wagons will be produced only in Turkey.

[07] GREEK COAST GUARD FIRES WARNING SHOTS TO A TURKISH FISHING BOAT

A Greek-flagged boat, at about 12:45 a.m. fired warning shots to the Turkish fishing boat named ''Akrabalar'' fishing in the international waters in the Aegean Sea off-shore Ayvalik. Following the Greek-flagged boat's firing shots into the air, the Akrabalar escaped to the Altinoluk direction and informed the Turkish Commandership of Coastal Security.

Turkish boats, which arrived the spot where the Greek-flagged boat had opened fires, saw that the Greek boat left the international waters and withdrew to Greek territorial waters.

[08] THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITH BUILT-OPERATE-TRANSFER MODEL WHILE DARDANELLES BRIDGE BY FOREIGN LOANS

The KGM made a further decision for the construction of the Dardanelles Bridge with foreign loans after a tender. The construction was earlier planned to be realized by built-operate-transfer model.

The KGM will open a tender for the construction of the Third Bosphorus Bridge with the same model.

First of all, the Higher Planning Council should ratify the tender. Following the approval, the KGM will open an international tender and collect bids.

The estimated cost of the third bridge was planned to be nearly one billion US dollars.

Another international tender will be opened also in 1998 for the construction of the Dardanelles Bridge planned to be built with 100 percent foreign credits. The construction of the bridge was planned to cost nearly 400 million US dollars and start in 1999.

The construction of the third Bosphorus bridge was foreseen to start also in 1999 and conclude within next four years.

[09] OZSOY, MINISTER OF HEALTH, LEAVES FOR COPENHAGEN

Prior to his departure, Ozsoy said that the issues of ''programme budget offered for the years 2000-2001'', ''European Region Health For Anybody (HFA) Policy and Strategies in the 21st Century'', ''Structural Function of Public in Europe'' and ''Committee's Proposal For A Europe Without Tobacco'' will be discussed in Copenhagen.

''Especially the HFA's targets in Europe for the 21st Century will be approved in that meeting and this will start a national-level evaluation and renewing process in our country,'' Ozsoy said.

''Meanwhile, I will find the opportunity to evaluate the bilateral relations in the field of health with the health ministers of especially the Turkish Republics, the countries in Caucasus and Balkans and the WHO member countries,'' Health Minister Ozsoy added.

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''75 MILLION DOLLARS WERE SPENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BIGGEST PORT OF TURKEY IN THE BLACK SEA REGION, WHICH IS ERDEMIR PORT''

ERDEMIR (Eregli Iron and Steel Factories) port, which has a capacity of 10 million tonnes, adding that ''therefore, the biggest port of the Black Sea region has been constructed, from now on, our biggest port in Black Sea region will be EREGLI Port.''

Inaugurating the EREGLI Port installations, Prime Minister Mesut Yżlmaz said that Turkey has a capacity of 11 million tonnes of naval commerce fleet, yet this number does not reflect the real capacity of Turkey.

Stressing that the naval commerce fleet capacity of Turkey was two million tonnes in 1983 and it increased to 11 million tonnes within 15 years, Yżlmaz said that the the ships in the fleet are reinforced by new ships.

Noting that correct policies will be continued to be pursued concerning maritime, Yżlmaz said that ''ERDEMIR Port is an important step which has been taken concerning the improvement of naval trade, ships which have a capacity of 150,000 tonnes can enter the ERDEMIR Port from now on. This is a pleasing development. The port will contribute to the economy of Zonguldak province and Eregli county of Zonguldak.

Pointing out that ERDEMIR has become the biggest heavy industry investment of Turkey, Yżlmaz said ''it has constituted a motivating force for other industrial sectors. We started to implement a model aiming at full privatization of ERDEMIR. Withing this privatization process, employees will be made the partners of ERDEMIR.''

[11] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANCY - NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ESCAPE TO GREECE FROM MUGLA INCREASES TO 1,146 IN LAST 8.5 MONTHS

The Provincial Directorate of Security and the Provincial Regiment Commandership of Gendarmerie in Mugla carry out an intense struggle against illegal immigrancy on the coast line in Mugla.

Officials said the captured illegal immigrants were to escape to the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea via Turkey and then to the European countries.

Officials said in last 8.5 months they captured 1,146 illegal immigrants and detained 20 people guiding the illegal immigrants during their attempt to escape.

The number of illegal immigrants captured in 1997 was 540.

Most of those people are of Iraqi, Irani and several African countries origin.

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