Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-25

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AA Daily

25 January 1999 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR ALGERIA - DEMIREL: ''IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ALGERIA CARRIES IMPORTANCE FOR THE PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN MEDITERRANEAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST''

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITS ALIEV, THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE RUMOURS SAYING THAT THE TERRORIST CHIEF IS IN KARABAKH HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED''

[04] HOLBROOKE'S NEW INITIATIVE CONCERNING TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES TO TRT-1 TELEVISION CHANNEL: ''WE WILL SEEK FOR MAKING THE TURKISH POLITICS STABLE BY DEPENDING ON CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE'S WILL''

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES TO TELEVISION CHANNEL : ''EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THAT PKK IS COMPLETELY AN ORDINARY CRIME ORGANIZATION'' - ''WE FAVOUR BULGARIA AND SLOVENIA TO JOIN NATO''

[07] 14,500 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM 43 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES CAPTURED IN EDIRNE IN 1998

[08] BASQUE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES THE DECISION CONCERNING THE SO-CALLED ''KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE'' TO NEXT MONTH - GUR, THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN: ''WE HOPE THAT THE PARLIAMENT WILL SHOW THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY''

[09] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''THE US AMBASSADOR IS AN EXPERT OF THE MIDDLE EAST, HIS VIEWS ARE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR ME''

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ALGERIA: ''THERE IS NO POLITICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDLY COUNTRIES''

[11] EU COUNCIL MEETING - SANTER, THE CHAIRMAN OF EU COMMISSION: ''WE WISH REVIVAL OF THE DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY''

[12] AL-MURAD, THE KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I READ THE NEWS SAYING THAT OCALAN IS IN KUWAIT''

[13] SCHEVARDNADZE, THE GEORGIAN PRESIDENT: ''THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE OF BAKU-CEYHAN ROUTE''

[14] TURKISH AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MEET IN ANKARA TO DISCUSS CFE TREATY

[15] TURKISH CUISINE PRAISED IN THE US TV CHANNEL

[16] THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RATIFIES TURKEY-BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG JEC'S MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) IS OCALAN IN KUWAIT?
Italian Il Giornale newspaper claimed that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK is in Kuwait. The paper claimed that all the secrets about Ocalan will be clear today. Il Giornale pointed out that they have taken information from the Italian special news agency ''Velino.''

TIME TO WORK
The nine-day holiday finished today and a busy week in economy and politics is waiting for Turkey. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will launch efforts to convene the parliament and if this is the case, the law on banks and budget can be adopted. The resignation of Bahattin Seker, who will go to military service, will be approved. Efforts will be intensified to determine the place of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK. An IMF delegation will come to Turkey on Wednesday.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Mega projects did not fell from the agenda of Turkey, but the Bolu Tunnel which turned into a never-ending story caused fight between then minister Topcu and the constructor firm. The tunnel was supposed to end in 2000, but now it is expected to be finished on 2001.

In Izmit Gulf Passage project, one of the sides was again Topcu and the other was Ali Haydar Veziroglu. Veziroglu loaded the two billion dollars of banknotes to the trucks and protested the tender.

WE WILL MEET WITH THE EU
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), told Milliyet that ''we are ready to discuss membership under the condition that we should enter into the EU as a confederation, and our being accepted under the equal conditions with the Greek Cypriots.''

''If the weapons purchase is continuing in Cyprus, it is the Greek side who does this. How many weapons they purchase, it is of no use. If they start to decrease the number of weapons, then we will think about it.'' Denktas said.

175 DEAD IN THE FEAST ''EID AL-FITR''
The officials warned. The newspapers published accident news and warnings for days. TRT prepared films. But nobody could stop the traffic monster. A total of 175 persons were killed during the feast ''Eid Al-Fitr''.

ISILAY SAYGIN GIVES UP POLITICS
Isılay Saygın, ANAP deputy and former state minister responsible from women and family, gave up politics. It was claimed that Saygın gave this decision because of pressure on her to be a candidate for mayorship. Saygın told reporters that she served with great enthusiasm while she was at the office. ''Now we will see our replacements all together. Our services are disregarded, and little statements concerning virginity and marriage proposals are exaggerated by the public,'' she said.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

171 PEOPLE DIE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
During the feast ''Eid Al-Fitr'' 171 people died in traffic accidents. The paper says that our only relief is the decrease in the number of traffic accidents when people returned to their homes.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

OCALAN PUZZLE
Foreign Ministry has intensified its diplomatic initiatives concerning the countries to which Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the sepaartist terrorist organization PKK may go. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit pointed out that the whereabouts of the chief terrorist is not known, ''but the thing that matters is the fact that Ocalan won't be able to find a place in the world easily to take shelter,'' Ecevit added.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

THE PACKAGE TO REVIVE ECONOMY IS READY
The government took a series of measures to revive economy. Within the measures package, the banks are given authority for additional sources for industrial credits, and the small and medium scale enterprises are provided with the facility to benefit 4 years term 100 billion TR credits with 30 percent interest.

''THE ELECTION CANNOT BE POSTPONED ANYMORE''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told NTV: ''there is no turning back anymore. Escaping from the elections will create big problems.''

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN SCENARIO IN KARABAKH
Yerevan government prepares infrastructure for an autonomous Kurdistan state in teh buffer zone in Karabakh. Armenia developed the idea of Kurdistan state as an alternative to the Northern Iraq and as a thesis against both Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Armenian president Kocharian declared 1999 as the ''year of enmity against Turks'', he provided camps for terrorists, and welcomed the head of the PKK. Armenia had earlier tried to revive autonomous Kurdish region in Lacin- Kubatlı region to divide Azerbaijan.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR ALGERIA - DEMIREL: ''IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ALGERIA CARRIES IMPORTANCE FOR THE PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN MEDITERRANEAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST''

Addressing a statement at Esenboga Airport before leaving for Algeria, President Demirel said that the improvement of relations between Turkey and Algeria, which are both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, carries importance for the peace, stability and prosperity in these regions.

Noting that he will be accompanied by a delegation composed of Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Murat Karayalcın, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, high ranking officials, academicans, businessmen and press members, President Demirel pointed out that ''Algeria is an important trade partner of Turkey, which meets a part of her energy need by the natural gas imported from Algeria. I will exchange views concerning regional and international issues particularly the Middle East Peace Process and seek to further improve the existing close relations between our countries during my visit to Algeria.''

President Demirel stressed that they will search for ways to increase 1.3 billion dollars of trade volume between the two countries and try to determine new areas of cooperation, adding that ''I think that my visit to Algeria will also strengthen our ties with the Arab world and consolidate the solidarity between our friendly countries.''

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITS ALIEV, THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE RUMOURS SAYING THAT THE TERRORIST CHIEF IS IN KARABAKH HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED''

(GATA).
Addressing a short statement after his meeting with Aliev, President Demirel stated that the rumours saying that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK is in Karabakh have not been confirmed yet, ''Karabakh is territory of Azerbaijan and if Ocalan is there, we will apply to the state of Azerbaijan,'' said President Demirel.

''I will visit Algeria tomorrow and when I return to Turkey after two days, I hope to visit Aliev again. He is fine,'' Demirel said.

Responding to a question asking the effect of the relations between Russia and Armenia after the S-300 missiles' deployment in Armenia, President Suleyman Demirel said that ''these news is not new, all of us know that Russia extended a great deal of weapon assistance to Armenia. We also know that Russia protects the borders of Armenia, in today's world it is impossible to solve problems by using weapons. Problems should be solved through dialogue.''

When asked whether or not Turkey will take a measure to that by forming an alliance with Israel and Azerbaijan, President Demirel said ''not many problems can be solved by alliances. Azerbaijan is a member of the United Nations (UN) and the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with her territorial integrity. Neither the UN nor the OSCE supports the idea of changing of borders by use of force.''

[04] HOLBROOKE'S NEW INITIATIVE CONCERNING TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS

Holbrooke plans to hold the meeting within February in Athens and foresees the participation of not only officials from Turkey and Greece, but also economy circles from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side and during this meeting efforts will be exerted to improve the confidence-building measures between the concerned sides.

Meanwhile, it is claimed in Greek press that some parts of the confidence- building measures that are foreseen by Richard Holbrooke are against the interests of Greece and if these measures are accepted, it means that TRNC will be recognized as a separate state.

The confidence-building measures of Holbrooke which are described as ''strange proposals'' by the Greek press, foresee teaching of Turkish language in schools of the Greek Cypriot side, revising history books, the solution of water problem of the island, making the Businessmen Club active in Ledra Palace in order to provide the communication between the concerned sides and reaching an agreement concerning cellular phones. The Greek press claimed that the mentioned measures aim at increasing the status of TRNC.

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES TO TRT-1 TELEVISION CHANNEL: ''WE WILL SEEK FOR MAKING THE TURKISH POLITICS STABLE BY DEPENDING ON CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE'S WILL''

Responding to questions at state-run television channel TRT-1, President Demirel said that the Turkish people is the one who will establish stability in the country.

Noting that the way to overcome the division within people is elections, President Demirel pointed out that if the results of the elections that will be held on April 18 brings stability to the country, this will be good, if not this means the commencement of a new period.

President Demirel pointed out that ''if people talk against the basic principles of the Turkish Republic's Constitution and the State, the organs of the state will take measures against them.''

Demirel stated that if the laws on budgets and banks are adopted by the parliament, it will be possible to find remedies for the difficulties in the debt payments, the lack of trust and stagnation in markets.

President Demirel added that the parliament should act in harmony to solve easily its problem of debts and later deal with the issues of elections.

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES TO TELEVISION CHANNEL : ''EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THAT PKK IS COMPLETELY AN ORDINARY CRIME ORGANIZATION'' - ''WE FAVOUR BULGARIA AND SLOVENIA TO JOIN NATO''

Addressing the state-run television channel, President Demirel said that Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK has been missing for few days, Demirel said ''he will appear in a few days, as he can't take shelter anywhere.''

Noting that Ocalan is the one who ordered people to commit the highest number of murders since the end of the Second World War, President Demirel said the diplomacy and politics pursued by Turkey regarding this issue is successful.

''Turkey can't take a step back concerning the Cyprus question, this fact has to be known by everybody. There is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and it has to be recognized as a state. This state has to co- exist with the Greek Cypriot side, this is the issue that was expressed by Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This is also the policy of our state,'' said Demirel.

Pointing out that murders are being committed in Kosovo and they are the same with the murders committed in Bosnia, President Demirel said that unfortunately the murders were incited by Milosevic, and he condemned the murders.

Referring to the problem in Caucasus, President Demirel said that there is a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1984, President Demirel said ''President Haydar Aliev provided that and there is no bloodshed in the region for four years.''

''Azerbaijan can't accept giving 'state status' to Karabakh region, which is in the territories of Azerbaijan. A thing that hurts Azerbaijan also hurts us, we tell Armenia that if she reaches an agreement with Azerbaijan to solve this issue, she can benefit from roads, borders and ports of Turkey,'' said Demirel.

''We favour Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia to be members of the NATO,'' said President Demirel, stressing that Europe is an important market for Turkey and the former will understand the value of Turkey.

[07] 14,500 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM 43 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES CAPTURED IN EDIRNE IN 1998

Edirne Police Organization officials told A.A correspondent that 14,510 illegal immigrants including 9,000 Iraqis, 1,344 Bangladeshis, 1302 Pakistanis, 955 Iranians, 411 Afghans, 381 Syrians, 231 Morroccans, 161 Algerians were captured in Edirne in 1998.

The other captured illegal immigrants were from Lebanon, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, China, Somalia, India, Palestine, Zaire, Senegal, Egypt, Britain, Nigeria, Africa, Gambia, Georgia, Jordan, Netherlands, Tunisia, Uganda, Kuwait, France, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Albenia, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Kenya, Moritania and Libya.

[08] BASQUE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES THE DECISION CONCERNING THE SO-CALLED ''KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN EXILE'' TO NEXT MONTH - GUR, THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN: ''WE HOPE THAT THE PARLIAMENT WILL SHOW THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY''

Responding to questions of A.A correspondent, Turkish Ambassador Gur stated that this issue was taken up by the Basque parliamentary council composed of representatives of all the parties last week. The parliament decided to take up the issue after three-four weeks following an investigation on the issue.

Noting that Turkey's views on the issue have been explained to the Spanish parliamentarians in Vitoria city of Basque region, Gur pointed out that ''I hope that our views won't be ignored.''

''In fact the parliament of Basque will give the final decision, thus we continue to give them information about the issue,'' Gur added.

Meanwhile, El Pais, which is one of the leading newspapers of Spain published an article on Monday which said that Spain is afraid of outbreak of a crisis with Turkey if the so-called ''Kurdish parliament in exile'' convenes in Vitoria. The article alleged that Turkish-Spanish relations depend on the decision of the Basque parliament.

Noting that the Basque parliament took up the issue three times since Yasar Kaya, the chairman of the so-called ''Kurdish parliament in exile'' applied to the parliament at the beginning of the new year, the article claimed that the parliament requested for information about the date of the meeting and its duration in its response to Kaya. The article quoted the words of a Spanish diplomat as ''I hope the parliament decides not to permit the gathering, if this is the case, our relations with Turkey can be bad.''

The article said that Turkish Ambassador to Spain also met with the spokesmen of all the political parties, adding Gur did not go to Vitoria to put pressure on parliamentarians, but to convey the concerns of Turkey regarding this issue. The article added that Turkey expects the Spanish government to prohibit the entrance of the so-called ''Kurdish parliamentarians'' to Spain if Basque parliament permits the gathering of the so-called parliament.

[09] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''THE US AMBASSADOR IS AN EXPERT OF THE MIDDLE EAST, HIS VIEWS ARE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR ME''

Responding to questions of journalists, Prime Minister Ecevit said that there is no development concerning the whereabouts of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization.

''I suppose we will take up any kind of issue that concerns the two countries in my meeting with Parris today. He sometimes visits us,'' Ecevit said.

Responding to another question about Kosovo, Prime Minister Ecevit recalled that Turkey requested the UN Security Council to convene and asked NATO to take more effective measures concerning the Kosovo question.

When asked whether or not a request has been made to Turkey asking her to send soldiers to Azerbaijan or transfer Incirlik base to this country, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we don't have official information about that.''

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ALGERIA: ''THERE IS NO POLITICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDLY COUNTRIES''

Addresing a statement at the official ceremony, President Demirel said that the two countries have many similarities, adding ''the Mediterranean unites the two countries, there are not any political problems between the two friendly countries and further improvement of the bilateral relations is to the interest of the two countries.''

[11] EU COUNCIL MEETING - SANTER, THE CHAIRMAN OF EU COMMISSION: ''WE WISH REVIVAL OF THE DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY''

Addressing the EU Council meeting, Santer stated that ''the EU Commission wishes revival of the dialogue with Turkey,'' stressing that the Commission also expects the realization of the European Strategy for Turkey, which was approved and supported by the Cardiff and Vienna Summits during the EU Term Presidency of Germany.

The strategy foreseen by the EU for Turkey and the financial cooperation can't be implemented due to the obstruction by Greece although it is accepted by the 14 EU countries. If Germany's proposal to take foreign policy decisions by ''majority'' rather than ''unanimity'' is accepted, the problems stemming from the Greek veto is expected to be overcome to a great extent.

[12] AL-MURAD, THE KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I READ THE NEWS SAYING THAT OCALAN IS IN KUWAIT''

Al-Murad told A.A correspondent that ''I would like to stress that this news is not true and such kind of a situation does not match with the foreign policy of Kuwait.''

Kuwaiti Ambassador Al-Murad stated that he hopes ''such kind of invented, hidden intended and incorrect news which doesn't reflect the truth will not hurt and adversely effect the friendly relations between Kuwait and Turkey.''

[13] SCHEVARDNADZE, THE GEORGIAN PRESIDENT: ''THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE OF BAKU-CEYHAN ROUTE''

Shevardnadze said that the decision concerning the pipeline route that will carry oil to world markets will be taken within this year.

Noting that he won't participate in the meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that will start in Moscow on Tuesday, Schevardnadze said that he will visit Turkey on February 26.

[14] TURKISH AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MEET IN ANKARA TO DISCUSS CFE TREATY

It is foreseen that Turkey and Russia should complete their CFE meetings, which is the continuation of the consultations of Russia and Turkey in Moscow on November 11, 1998, until the meeting of Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which will be held in Istanbul on November 18-19, 1999.
The sides had an agreement on the adaptation of CFE Treaty to the changing security conditions in Europe in the OSCE's Lisbon Summit on December 1, 1996 and they started initiatives for adaptation in Vienna.

The OSCE Foreign Ministers decided in a meeting which was held in Oslo that the disputed issues should be overcome as soon as possible and that the writing studies should be launched in the first months of 1999. The OSCE summit in Istanbul foresees the ratification of these studies.

[15] TURKISH CUISINE PRAISED IN THE US TV CHANNEL

The programme stated that the Turkish cuisine influenced the Middle East and Europe in the Ottoman Empire period and stressed that the food with many appetizers (hors d'oeuvres) which are served in small plates, are decorated and dressed with spices which all means a parfume.

The programme which also introduced Mısır Covered Market emphasized that the most interesting spices of the world are present in this covered market which is one of the significant historical sights of Istanbul.

The programme also broadcasted an interview of Kristin Debby, an author who writes books on food, with the persons in charge of Alaturka, a Turkish restaurant in Chicago.

Debby said that Turkish cuisine influenced the Aegean and Europe and that the Greeks introduced Turkish food as Greek food in the US.

It is reported that the programme which was broadcasted twice the same day will be broadcasted two more times this month and that some recipies from Turkish cuisine will be published in Tribune daily on January 27.

[16] THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RATIFIES TURKEY-BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG JEC'S MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

The memorandum of understanding which is issued in today's Offical Gazette pointed out the opportunities to improving the present economic cooperation and trading relations between Turkey and Belgium.

The memorandum of understanding pointed out that the Belgian delegation informed Turkey on the credits which are provided by their government. The memorandum added that the Belgian delegation also informed Turkish delegation on the Turkish projects in which the Belgian companies can be interested, within the framework of the mentioned credits provided by the Belgian government.

The memorandum of understanding noted that the delegations evaluated the investments, the privatization, the promotion facilities in the two countries, cooperation in third markets, sectoral cooperation and technical issues in the third period of meetings.

A.A

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