Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-01

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

01 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] NSC STATEMENT IS ISSUED - NSC REACHES A CONSENSUS OF OPINION BY SAYING THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT LAW ON THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME WILL HELP STATE POWERS IN THIS STRUGGLE

[02] PRESS CONFERENCE OF IMKB AND OECD

[03] ERSUMER, THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES RETURNS TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY WILL FUNCTION AS A BRIDGE FOR TRANSPORT OF TURKMEN NATURAL GAS TO EUROPE''

[04] ERDOGAN ASKS FOR ''CORRECTION OF HIS VERDICT''

[05] TRAINING OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S TROOPS - 9TH TERM TRAINING CONCLUDES

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[09] ''SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY'' STARTS ON CYPRUS

[10] INTEREST RATE FOR CREDITS WITHIN SCOPE OF DIFFERENCE OF EXCHANGE FUND FOR FOREIGN CREDITS

[11] THE MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE IN ITALY - TURKEY'S TENDER FOR ATTACK HELICOPTERS WORTH 4.5 BILLION US DOLLARS CARRIES GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR ITALY

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 1 OCTOBER 1998

[13] KYRGYZSTAN ORGANIZES A CONFERENCE FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

[14] SEZGIN, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER: ''NO MILITARY DISPATCHES TO SYRIAN BORDER''

[15] THE DELEGATION OF JOHANNESBURG CHAMBER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY VISITS ISTANBUL CHAMBER OF TRADE

[01] NSC STATEMENT IS ISSUED - NSC REACHES A CONSENSUS OF OPINION BY SAYING THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT LAW ON THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME WILL HELP STATE POWERS IN THIS STRUGGLE

The NSC, which convened under the leadership of President Suleyman Demirel, also discussed issues such as fundamentalist activities and foreign policy developments which concern the security of Turkey including the situation in Northern Iraq.

Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Chief of General Staff, ministers who are members of the Council, commanders, the NSC Secretary General, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, Husamettin Ozkan, Salih Yıldırım and Isın Celebi, the Ministers of State participated at the NSC meeting.

A statement was issued after the NSC meeting, saying ''the NSC reviewed issues like the situation of security and public order in Turkey and internal and foreign developments which affect the situation in Turkey, fundamentalist activities, the results of the struggle carried out against the separatist terrorist organization and organized crime groups.'' The NSC statement pointed out that the results taken during the struggle against fundamentalism, separatist terrorism and organized crime groups were also appreciated.

''The NSC also discussed the measures that have to be taken for establishment of a stronger internal peace in Turkey and the foreign policy developments in the region and the world which closely concern the security of Turkey, including the developments in Northern Iraq. Besides, the NSC was informed about the existing situation of investments which have been undertaken in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey and their programmes for the coming years and a consensus of opinion was reached to take the necessary measures for completion of these investments as soon as possible,'' added the statement.

[02] PRESS CONFERENCE OF IMKB AND OECD

Osman Birsen, the Chairman of the IMKB, and Abdul Bayhan, the Chairman of the OECD Private Sector Development Department of the Financing, Fiscal and Entrepreneurial Director's Office, attended the meeting.

The IMKB Chairman Birsen said that the aim of the three-year programme, which will be realized with one million US dollars in joint contributions of the IMKB and the OECD, is to create and develop upon a common basis the activities which will provide for the development of the capital markets of the Eurasian countries including Turkey.

[03] ERSUMER, THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES RETURNS TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY WILL FUNCTION AS A BRIDGE FOR TRANSPORT OF TURKMEN NATURAL GAS TO EUROPE''

Addressing a statement at the Ataturk Airport upon his arrival in Turkey, Ersumer said that Turkish and Bosnian officials signed a Protocol on Commercial and Technical Cooperation and a memorandum of understanding which foresees the sale and purchase of natural gas.

Noting that Turkey mobilizes her own credit possibilities for Bosnia- Herzegovina, Ersumer said ''the protocol signed between Energoinvest firm of Bosnia and TEMSAN, Thermomechanical Industry and Commerce Joint Stock Company will increase the business opportunities between the two countries to a considerable extent. Morever, the memorandum of understanding signed between the BOTAS (Turkish Oil Pipeline Transport, Inc.) and the B-H GAS firm is an important step for the transport of Turkmen natural gas to Europe. These agreements we signed bring Turkey into the status of a bridge concerning the transport of the Turkmen natural gas to the West.''

Ersumer added that he also met with Alija Izetbegovic, the Bosnian Co- President and with Haris Sladjdzic, the Bosnian Co-Prime Minister during his stay in Bosnia.

[04] ERDOGAN ASKS FOR ''CORRECTION OF HIS VERDICT''

The lawyers of Erdogan submitted their petitions to the Supreme Court of Appeals the same day.

The Chief Prosecution will examine the application of Erdogan and if it rejects this application, then it means that Erdogan has exhausted all the internal solutions. But if the Chief Prosecution accepts the application, then his suit will be heard again at the same court at the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Correction of the court decisions are regarded as an extraordinary practice and it doesn't stop the execution of the sentence, but in practice the result of the request asking for correcting the decision is waited for.

[05] TRAINING OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA'S TROOPS - 9TH TERM TRAINING CONCLUDES

A ceremony was held upon the completion of the ninth term training at the Armoured Units School and Training Division Commandership at Etimesgut, Ankara.

Addressing the ceremony, Captain Slobadan Cesic, the Commander of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Tank Company, said that the persons their units, who successfully concluded their training, were returning to Bosnia-Herzigovina as peace envoys.

Major General Erol Ozkasnak, the Commander of the Armoured Units School Training Division, they had given training to 77 officers, 121 non- commissioned officers and 651 soldiers of the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina and trained the persons in eight tank companies and one headquarters company.

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS IN ANKARA
The National Security Council (NSC) held its regular monthly meeting yesterday at the Presidential Residence with President Suleyman Demirel presiding. At the meeting Demirel expressed his appreciation for the success gained in the struggle against terrorism and organized crime. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the government would continue its struggle against terrorism with ''determination''. Foreign support for terrorist activities in Turkey, the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile and recent developments in Northern Iraq were some of the issues discussed. Regarding the recent meeting of the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile at the Italian Parliament, Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of Defense, said that the Italian firms will be excluded from the Turkish military bids. /Sabah/

75TH ANNIVERSARY AWARD TO EIGHT LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
The Prime Ministry, General Directorate of Press and Information will present awards to eight local newspapers within the framework of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. The awards will be presented by Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State on 6 October at the State Guest House in Ankara. /Sabah/

RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM IS ON ITS WAY
A new project has been added to the Tourism Ministry's efforts to enliven Turkish tourism; religious belief tourism. Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism, held a meeting in Istanbul yesterday to provide information about religious belief tourism projects. He said the goal of religious belief tourism was to demonstrate that the heritage left by the founders of the three great religions who constructed mosques, synagogues and churches side by side and promoted religious tolerance was still alive. Gurdal noted the importance of the year 2000 when large celebrations are being planned in line with Christian celebrations to mark the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. /Cumhuriyet/

PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN NEW YORK
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), who is still in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, said that Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot Leader, was misleading the United Nations on the Cyprus issue. He added that the main objective of the Greek Cypriots was to destroy the current balance between Turkey and Greece and to obtain control of the entire island. Denktas is expected to meet with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council. /Sabah/

SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF TIKA
On the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, presented a plaque to President Suleyman Demirel for his efforts to promote TIKA. Cem said that TIKA had grown as an institution because of Turkey's combined European and Asian characteristcs. Demirel said at the ceremony that Turkey was like a ''brother'' to the former Soviet Turkish-speaking republics. TIKA Chairman, Ambassador Tugay Ozceri, also said that the organization had helped to initiate 150 bilateral and 60 multilateral projects. /All papers/

CANADA TO LEND TURKEY 50 MILLION US DOLLARS
Canada is considering lending the Turk Eximbank 50 million US dollars for the financing of exports and foreign investments of the Netas Northern Electric Telecommunication Corp., a Canadian-Turkish telecommunications company. The Istanbul-based Netas exports telephone exchanges, nationwide telecommunications grids, energy systems and telephones to countries in the Balkans, the Middle East and the former Soviet Republics.

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

RIVAL IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS 'DUE' IN ANKARA
The rival Iraqi Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani of the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (PUK) are expected to come to Ankara to resume the Ankara Peace Process, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Necati Utkan told the journalists on Wednesday. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Utkan said that although Turkey wasn't a party to the agreement, the Ankara Process, initiated under the auspices of Turkey, would continue. Utkan also commented on current Turkish-Syrian relations, saying that they would remain sour as long as Damascus ''continues promoting the separatist terrorist PKK organization against Turkey''. /Cumhuriyet/

NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR IN PARLIAMENT
The Parliament will begin today the new legislative year with a heavy agenda. President Suleyman Demirel will make an opening speech at the first session of the General Assembly. /All papers/

HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
A ''Conference on Human Rights in Turkey and in the World in the Light of 50 Years of Experience'' jointly organized by the Hacettepe University, the Heinrich Boll Foundation and UNESCO will be opened today. The conference will be held at the European Community Research Centre in Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/

''ARMENIAN'' CRISIS WITH ITALY LOOMING
Following the crisis between Turkey and Italy about a meeting of the so- called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile in Rome on 29 September, there may be another crisis between these two countries because of a draft law on a so- called ''Armenian genocide'' to be discussed at the Italian Assembly. Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, pointed out yesterday that initiatives would be launched jointly with business circles and non-governmental organizations with the coordination of the Foreign Ministry to show reactions against Italy and recover the situation. Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, noted yesterday that Italy should distance herself from the activities of the PKK terrorist organization and give a positive response to the Turkish messages. Utkan said, ''the activities of the PKK terrorist organization should be dealt with seriously''. /Cumhuriyet/

PEACEFUL BRIDGE-98
The ''Peaceful Bridge-98'' exercises organized in order to achieve a general understanding among the Partnership For Peace (PFP) member countries for the protection of peace started yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

DAMASCUS CRITICIZES ANKARA
Syrian officials are continuing to criticize the military cooperation agreement signed between Turkey and Israel. Gen. Mustafa Tlas, the Syrian Minister of Defense, said that the main problem faced by the Arab nations was the Turkish-Israeli alliance. Gen. Tlas noted that this alliance was aimed not only at Syria but at all the Arab nations. /Cumhuriyet/

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

GERMAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME INSPIRES HOPE FOR TURKS
Gerhard Schroeder, who is taking steps for the establishment of a new German government, will go to Paris before he officially takes over as prime minister from Helmut Kohl. According to the German Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, the new government in Germany will lead to significant changes in Europe. Meanwhile, members of the SPD and the Greens made statements following the general elections in Germany and said that they would keep their promises regarding foreigners living in Germany. Turkish citizens in Germany are therefore very hopeful concerning the new government. Turkish-German relations are expected to recover. /Cumhuriyet/

NATIONAL CLEARANCE
On the last day of the ''national clearance'', part of a government tax reform package, 8 billion US dollars in TL and foreign exchange were deposited in the banks. Together with cheques, shares and bonds, the total amounted to 20 billion US dollars. Transactions for registry and vehicle transfer increased by two or three-fold. More than 15,000 companies were established. Many companies increased their capital. Zekeriya Temizel, the Minister of Finance, said in a statement yesterday that targets had been achieved and added, ''money is staying in the country and people are ready for the new monetary policy''. /Milliyet/

ITALIAN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER INVITES CETIN
Luciano Violante, the Italian Speaker of the Parliament, has invited Hikmet Cetin, his Turkish counterpart, to Rome. Cetin, who had a telephone conversation with Violante to express Turkey's concern about the meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament in Rome, didn't accept the invitation. Meanwhile, the US government has also reacted aginst the meeting in Rome and confirmed that they viewed the PKK as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, said ''Opening the doors of the Italian Parliament to a wing of the PKK terrorist organization can't be accepted. The Italian officials must accept their grave mistake and act accordingly''. /Milliyet/

COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPORT
A report prepared by the Council of Europe has taken up the issues of human rights and democratization in Turkey. The report, prepared by Andreas Barsony, the reporter of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, requests Turkey to make improvements concerning human rights. The report will be voted on at the General Council of the Parliamentary Assembly. The report proposes that Ankara should cooperate with the Venice Commission which makes research into the legal structures of the Eastern European countries. /Milliyet/

IMF: ''MEASURES TAKEN BY TURKEY ARE POSITIVE''
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new report entitled ''Economic View of the World''. The report says that measures taken by Turkey to reduce inflation rates and minimize negative effects of the current global financial turmoil on the Turkish economy have been very constructive. Gunes Taner, the Minister of State Responsible for the Economy, arrived yesterday in Washington, D.C., where he will meet with officials from the IMF and the World Bank, which are currently holding joint meetings. /Hurriyet/

ASPENDOS MUSIC FESTIVAL
The ''First Aspendos European Classical Music Festival'' will start on 4 October. The festival, which is financed by the Ministry of Culture and the European Community, will last four days.

/Hurriyet/

TURKISH PAINTER AWARDED BY EUROPEAN ACADEMY
Canan Koldasoglu, a Turkish woman painter, has won an award at a contest organized in Italy by the European Academy, which is embodied in the European Parliament. /Hurriyet/

[09] ''SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY'' STARTS ON CYPRUS

The UN sources said that the UN Secretary General thinks that firstly one has to focus on the measures aimed at limiting this lack of confidence between the two sides.

Therefore, Annan aims at overcoming the lack of confidence between the two sides on the island with ''shuttle diplomacy'' which will be carried out with the mediation of Ann Hercus, the UN Secretary General's Representative to Cyprus.

The US and Britain are expected to help Ann Hercus with their representatives on the island. Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary General's Special Consultant to Cyprus will take initiatives if the two leaders decide to meet with each other.

Meanwhile, Rauf Denktas, the TRNC President, explained on Wednesday the details of his confederation proposal to Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General.

Emphasizing the fact that time is needed for the Greek Cypriots to accept discussing the confederation proposal, Denktas responded to a question of a journalist by saying ''the S-300 missiles aren't our problem, rather it is the problem of Clerides. We've taken our measures together with Turkey.''

Meanwhile, the TRNC officials who hold contacts with UN General Secretariat in New York, reacted to the use of the title ''Cyprus President'' for Glafcos Clerides and ''the leader of the Turkish Cypriot side'' for Denktas and said that the UN, which had always attributed importance to protection of equality among the two sides on Cyprus, didn't do the same this time and asked for correction of this title.

The UN officials apologized for that and this will be corrected in the official document which is expected to be published on Thursday.

[10] INTEREST RATE FOR CREDITS WITHIN SCOPE OF DIFFERENCE OF EXCHANGE FUND FOR FOREIGN CREDITS

In accordance with the communication, which was published in the Official Gazette and entered into effect, the annual flexible interest rate in October for all credits in the scope of the difference of exchange fund for foreign credits, will be 81 percent.

The flexible interest rate was also 81 percent in September.

[11] THE MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE IN ITALY - TURKEY'S TENDER FOR ATTACK HELICOPTERS WORTH 4.5 BILLION US DOLLARS CARRIES GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR ITALY

Italian firms are closely interested in particularly the attack helicopter tender which is worth 4.5 billion US dollars and also in the project for minesweeper ships, which is worth 2.3 quadrillion Turkish Liras and the tender which will be put out for war tanks next year.

Officials at the Ministry of Defense said that the market share of Italy which increased after the end of the cold war, attributes great importance to the tenders opened in Turkey.

Officials said that increasing tension against Italy which tolerated the meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament in exile, won't only raise difficulties for the choice of the Italian Augusta A-129 International helicopters, but also risk the chance of Italy winning tenders for minesweepers and war tanks.

Meanwhile, it was reported that within the framework of the attack helicopter tender, recent proposals were given to the international helicopter companies and final responses were received.

The officials noted that helicopters which participated in the tender will have test flights throughout October, adding that test flights of the US Group McDonnell-Douglas and Skorsky helicopters were made and that testing of the European group helicopters will be made later.

The Defense Industry Performance Committee, composed of the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff will hold a meeting and disclose the company which won the tender.

Following the determination of the company which won the tender a prototype will be produced before the year 2000 of the model which Turkey adopted.

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 1 OCTOBER 1998

A total of 27 Turkish companies will have stands at the fair to be held between 1-9 October.

GIRESUN - A 36-member Japanese delegation led by Seiroku Sato, the Mayor of Sagae, Japan, arrived on Wednesday at Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region.

The guest Japanese delegation will leave Turkey on 2 October.

Giresun and Sagae are sister cities.

ANKARA - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, attended the reception held at the Chinese Embassy in Ankara upon the celebration of the Chinese National Day.

Kamer Genc, the Acting Speaker of the Parliament; Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture; and Mumtaz Soysal, the independent Deputy from Zonguldak Province attended the reception.

KONYA - The ''International Dede Korkut Festival'' will take place in central Konya Province on 6 October, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Turkish Linguistics Society and the Selcuk University organized the festival.

ANTALYA - The ''First Aspendos European Classical Music Festival'' will start on 4 October in southern Antalya Province, it was reported on Thursday.

The festival, which is financed by the Ministry of Culture and the European Union and Austrian Cultural Office, will continue until 12 October.

IZMIR-SANLIURFA - Narcotics officials seized on Thursday 11 kg of hashish and detained two persons in an operation in Izmir.

Meanwhile, narcotics officials, acting on a tip-off, seized 3 kg 515 grams of hashish in southeastern Sanliurfa Province.

ANKARA - Lieutenant General Helmut Willmann, the German Commander of the Land Forces, will come to Turkey on 4 October as the official guest of General Atilla Ates, the Commander of the Land Forces, it was reported on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Willmann will visit General Ates at the Land Forces' Headquarters on the second day of his five day official visit.

He will leave Turkey for Germany on 8 October.

[13] KYRGYZSTAN ORGANIZES A CONFERENCE FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

Several papers concerned with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish War of Independence have been presented at the conference.

A delegation of historians lead by Prof. Dr. Azmi Suslu, the Chairman of the Ataturk Research Center, represented Turkey at the conference where the historians from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were also in attendance.

[14] SEZGIN, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER: ''NO MILITARY DISPATCHES TO SYRIAN BORDER''

Responding to the questions of reporters Sezgin said ''this is an artificial tension'' adding that extending support to terrorism became Syria's state policy. Sezgin said ''this damages Turkey and is in violation with the UN resolutions, and friendly relations.''

Sezgin noted that Turkey tried all diplomatic ways to make Syria give up extending support to terrorism adding ''of course, patience has a limit. I believe that diplomatic ways will bring a solution. If the diplomatic efforts fail, then we aren't responsible for the consequences.''

Mentioning the relations with Italy, Sezgin noted that there were relations with Italy within the framework of the NATO and recalled that during the NATO Defense Ministers' meeting joint decisions were taken to struggle against organized crime. Sezgin said ''this attitude of Italy, is in violation with the principles of law, democracy and the NATO and isn't in accord with friendly relations.

When asked about Turkey's attitude from now on, Sezgin said ''we will do what is required for the Republic of Turkey. Our humanitarian and political relations will be damaged if Italy fails to realize its mistake and take the required measures.''

[15] THE DELEGATION OF JOHANNESBURG CHAMBER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY VISITS ISTANBUL CHAMBER OF TRADE

Addressing the meeting with the South African delegation, Ugur Catbas, the Acting Chairman of the Administrative Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Trade, said that the ITO attributes great importance to South Africa which has been a commercial door for Turkey for the last five years.

Reminding that the ITO participated at the Rand Show in 1991 and 1993 and at the Saitex'97 General Trade Fair in 1997, Catbas pointed out, ''we sent a group of experts to South Africa between 20 and 29 September 1997. Meanwhile, we have published a book on 'South Africa: A Country Research' in 1996''.

Noting that Turkey has imported goods worth 57.8 million US dollars from South Africa during the first four months of 1998 and exported goods worth 26.0 million US dollars to this country within the same period, Catbas stressed, ''we export to South Africa goods such as scarves, blankets, refridgerators, heaters, cookers, hazelnuts, clinker, leather, iron and steel bars, hawsers and wire, and import from this country goods such as lignite, coal, sheepskins, pine, gaboon mahogany (okoume wood), wool, acrylic and cast iron.''

Trevor Sinclair, the Chairman of the South African delegation, pointed out that 65 percent of their more than 5 thousand members engage in international trade.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article