Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-23

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[01] AA News

23 March 2000 Thursday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BLOODY DAY IN THE BLACK SEA
Ukrainian coastal security boats opened fire in the Black Sea and killed two Turkish fishermen, and sank two Turkish boats. It was claimed that three Turkish boats were fishing in Ukrainian territorial waters without getting permission. Captain Durmus Cinar, and a crew were killed. Tens of fishermen are under custody in Odessa.

FLOATING POWER STATIONS TO COME
Floating power stations will be brought to Antalya and Mugla provinces. There is energy shortage in these provinces due to intense tourism in summer. The floating power stations will anchor to Antalya and Mugla off shores, and provide energy during summer. Officials of Energy Ministry pointed out that energy need increased in the region in the recent years as number of touristic installations increased in Antalya and Mugla, and industry installations in the region developed much.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

AMENDMENT PACKAGE TO BE OPENED TODAY
The three proposals of constitutional amendment which also cover the one related to the election of the president for two consecutive terms of five years, will be taken up at the Parliamentary Constitution Commission on Thursday.

The proposals foresees amendment in Article 101 of the Constitution related to election of the president, Article 86 related to rights of deputies and Article 69 which is about the principles that should be abided by the political parties.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Durmus Cinar (27), captain of ''Serif Cinar'', and a crew were killed in the attack. Ukraine extorted the boats, many fishermen were taken into custody. Sermet Atacanli, Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said, ''this is a grave incident. We will launch required intiatives.'' General Staff called for infomation from Ukraine.

PKK TRAP TO CHECHENS
Russians trained 20 terrorists of the PKK organization and sent them to Chechnya. It was understood that the PKK terrorists were the moles when Russian raided the township which Chechen leaders Mashadov and Basayev were hidden. Chechens killed three PKK terrorists under gunfire when they understood that the terrorists informed about the place of their leaders.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

BULENT ECEVIT: DISCUSSIONS ARE ARTIFICIAL AGENDA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said more than 400 signatures were collected for constitutional amendment proposals, adding that, ''I believe that constitutional amendments will take place in the coming days as the parliamentarians who gave these signatures will use their votes in this direction. I hope new votes will be added to them.''

Ecevit also said certain circles create discussions over Article 312 and Turkey was stuck with this artificial agenda.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Ozbakir said, ''a total of 639 files are prepared, but on only 62 cases the files could be suitted.''

GOOD NEWS, WARM DAYS ARE COMING
Cold and rainy weather will leave the country on Friday, and temperatures will increase 10-15 degrees.

Officials of State Meteorology Affairs General Directorate said Turkey is still under the effect of cold and rainy weather.

Precipitation continues in eastern parts of Marmara, Western Black Sea, Southern and Internal parts of the Aegean, western parts of Central Anatolia, and Western Mediterranean.

According to the estimations, precipitation will leave Turkey on Friday.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

British Orange, German Deutsche Telecom, Finnish Nokia, Norwegian Telnor are among the companies. The last offers will be given on April 3. The tender for the first network will be given between April 10 and 11.

WE WILL GIVE ADDITIONAL INTENT LETTER TO IMF
The intent letter, composed of 10 articles, will be discussed in International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Directors Board. The Intent Letter includes developments as of December 22 when Stand-by agreement was signed, and the committments regarding the measures that should be taken. The Intent Letter will be discussed together with a report, prepared by a delegation led by Carlo Cottarelli, Chief of IMF Turkey Desk.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The famous singer and compositor who is 57 years old, will give a concert in Turkey on May 7 at Ataturk Sports Hall within the framework of Ankara International Music Festival.

AMNESTY SIGNAL
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the Amnesty Law would be brought onto parliamentary agenda again in coming days.

Meanwhile, Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister, said, ''the Amnesty Law will be taken up after debates on the constitutional amendment are finalized.'' The Amnesty Law was vetoed by President Suleyman Demirel, and sent back to the parliament for its discussion again.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The Experts Committee, composed of 15 non-governmental organizations, decided that the central unity should also be provided in rural level.

[03] STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''TARGETS OF ANTI-INFLATION PROGRAM ARE NOT TARGETS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO BE REACHED''

Speaking in the monthly Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) meeting, Onal noted that Turkey can achive in having a 25-percent consumer prices index (CPI) and 20-percent wholesale prices index (WPI) as of the end of 2000.

Onal stated that the prior target of the anti-inflation and restructuring program is decreasing the inflation to a single digit figure and reviving the economic growth.

To this end, the public finance, revenue, monetary, foreign currency policies are being implemented seriously and with determination, Onal stressed.

Onal emphasized that the people should continue to increase their support to achieve in the program and that also, the privatization revenues, the direct foreign capital flow, the export revenues and tourism revenues should be increased.

The industrial sector undertakes important responsibities to reach the inflaton and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) targets, Onal said.

Onal requested the industrialists to invest and produce more, to look for and learn new technologies, to try to increase productivity and efficiency.

They target at implementing 18 billion U.S. dollar privatization within the framework of the three-year economic stability program, Onal said.

Onal noted that they aim at gaining 7.6 billion U.S. dollars from the privatization initiatives of 2000.

They think that they will realize more than 7.6 billion U.S. dollar privatization this year, Onal added.

[04] ''LYRICAL HISTORY SHOW'' TO GO ON A EUROPEAN TOUR

The show started to be performed in Istanbul.

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Chorus and Dancers, Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Band Islamic Mysticism Music Band, Jannisary Band, Mevlevis performing the Sema, Sefarad Synagogue Hymn Chorus, Greek Orthodox Church Chorus, Ferikoy S. Vartanants Armenian Churt Chorus performed the Lyrical History Show.

The show is being performed by 450 people. Yekta Kara and Ali Taygun are the general arts administrators, and Serdar Yalcin is the conducter of the show.

Following the performances in Open Air Theatre in June, Ephesus Ancient Theatre in July, in Ankara in September, and in Southeastern Anatolia Region, the show will go on a European tour.

The show will be performed in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Britain, and Belgium.

This show was firstly staged within the framework of HABITAT-2 activities in 1996.

The Lyrical History Show has been staged for eight times until today.

The heads of state and government of 62 countries which participated in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in Istanbul, had also watched this show.

[05] VERHEUGEN, EU COMMISSIONER, TO START CONTACTS ON CYPRUS

Officials of EU Commission said that they wish the Turkish side to represent itself in the full membership negotiations between the Greek Cypriot side and the EU.

The officials noted that Verheugen, who will meet with Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), will insist on Turkish Cypriots' sending a delegation to the full membership negotiations.

This is the first visit of the new Commission headed by Romano Prodi.

This visit is also important since it is the first contact on Cyprus following the Helsinki Summit.

The diplomats in Brussels said that TRNC looks for a fair dialogue with the EU following the Helsinki Summit.

This dialogue should be independent from the contacts which are held with the Greek Cypriot side, and this is a precondition, they added.

The diplomatic sources said that a positive change in the EU Commission's attitude towards TRNC will warm the relations but that the dimensions of EU's good will is not clear.

The EU Commission decided to translate the EU regulation to Turkish and to inform the Turkish Cypriots. To this end, it approved 3 million U.S. dollar subsidy. However, the EU Commission decided that the Greek Cypriots should translate the regulation and take the subsidy.

The EU Commission does not respond to the questions on how much reliable the translation of the regulation by the Greek Cypriots into Turkish can be, and how the regulation can be submitted to the Turkish side.

Denktas said that they cannot rely on the documents which will be translated by the Greek Cypriots and that the documents should be controlled and re-translated.

Ankara also opposed to the translation of the EU regulation by the Greek Cypriots.

TRNC will once more explain Verheugen what a big mistake it is to support Greek Cypriot side's EU candidacy before the Cyprus question is solved.

The diplomatic sources noted that TRNC will ask Verheugen the meaning of paying millions of dollars to the Greek Cypriots for the translation of documents.

How much time the EU needs to end crossing its eyes to Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriots, will be understood following Verheugen's contacts on the island, the diplomatic sources added.

[06] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF TURKISH ASSOCIATIONS IN GERMANY

Tantan said that he will inform the concerned authorities in Turkey about the ''pink card'' given to the Turkish citizens which became German citizens.

They will solve this problem as soon as possible, Tantan noted.

Tantan stated that Turkey and many European Union (EU) countries support dual citizenship but that some countries like Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands oppose to the dual citizenship.

Turkey, as an EU candidate country, will continue its efforts regarding the dual citizenship, Tantan stressed.

Tantan said that Turkey has prepared draft laws regarding the heritage, assets, and retirement problems of the Turkish people who became German citizens.

These draft laws are expected to be ratified by the parliament soon, Tantan added.

[07] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DUE IN TURKEY

A statement issued by Parliamentary Press and Information Department said Sokolov and the accompanying delegation will arrive in Ankara on March 26, and visit Anitkabir, Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Founder of Modern Turkish Republic.

The guest Parliament Speaker will meet with Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut and will be received by President Suleyman Demirel the same day.

Sokolov will also meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Kamran Inan, Chairman of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission.

Sokolov will visit Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State on March 28.

Bulgarian Parliament Speaker and an accompanying delegation will proceed to Aegean Izmir province wrapping up contacts in Ankara, and will depart Turkey after visiting historical and touristic places.

[08] TREMOR IN SENKAYA

Ataturk University (A.U.) Quake Research Center statement said an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.4 shook Senkaya at 23:20 local time.

The quake was felt by surrounding townships. There are no reported casualties or financial damage.

The statement said 14 slight quakes were recorded in Senkaya since March 17.

[09] UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRE OPENED BY UKRAINIAN COASTAL SECURITY BOATS ON TURKISH FISHING BOATS

In the note, Ukrainian officials said nearly 10 Turkish fishing boats were poaching in the territorial waters of Ukraine, adding that Ukrainian coastal security boats first of all warned the boats to stop.

The note said warning fire has been opened to the boats which tried to escape despite the warning to stop. It said fire was opened on them when the boats did not stop despite all warnings.

The boat named ''Yarim Ahmet'', sank, and two others which Ukrainian officials named as ''Sirne Fener and Zemfira'', were stopped. The remaining fled.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said they rescued the crew of the sinking ship, yet found a dead person and an injured when they went to the ship.

Two boats were towed to one of the ports of Ukraine. The officials did not give information about the number of the fishermen and their names.

It was known that Ukraine was uneasy for a long time as Turkish fishing boats were poaching on its restricted economic region waters.

However, Turkish authorities announced to Ukraine that, ''this was not an excuse to the incident.'' They also wanted a detailed report from Ukraine reflecting the incident totally.

Ukrainian officials said the report can be ready soon.

Restricted economic region is implemented as 200 miles, including Turkey, in the Black Sea mutually.

[10] MINOR TREMORS ROCK TEKIRDAG AND MANISA

Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute of Bogazici University said a minor tremour measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale occurred at 17.54 local time at the outskirts of Tekirdag province.

Another minor earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 2.9 with Kırkagac township of Manisa occurred at 20.55 local time.

Meanwhile, three aftershocks of minor strength were felt in the quake stricken Marmara region; first, at 19.51 hours local time on Wednesday measuring 3.0 in the Sapanca township of Adapazari, the other at 03.57 hours local time in Karamursel, Kocaeli, measuring 2.7, and at 04.12 local time in Kaynasli, Duzce measuring 3.1.

[11] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

Ramazan Mirzaoglu, Minister of State, will give information about providing security of the Straits.

Project of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry to cheapen the inputs used in agricultural production, and the decree prepared for the support of animal breeding will also be discussed.

Yasar Okuyan, Minister of Labor and Social Security, will make statements about the Social Security Draft Law, and the cooperative houses which collapsed in the quake region.

Abdulhaluk Cay, Minister of State, will give information about his meeting with Kyrgz officials, Edip Safter Gaydali, Minister of State, will inform about the Turkish-Iraqi, and Turkish-Nigerian Joint Economic Commission Meetings.

[12] CONTACTS OF ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY, IN THE NETHERLANDS

Ersumer made a brief statement following the meeting which took place in Ministry Building in The Hague.

Ersumer said he had a very beneficial meeting with the Dutch minister, and pointed out that the Netherlands was interested in several projects within the scope of Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

Ersumer said in this respect, they reached an agreement with the Dutch minister to sign a memorandum of understanding for the realization of irrigation projects in the region by the Dutch companies.

Minister of Energy pointed out that irrigation projects will be the main agenda item during Turkish-Dutch Joint Economic Commission meetings that will take place in Ankara in May.

Ersumer said he invited the Dutch minister to Turkey.

Joritsma, speaking after the meeting, expressed pleasure over the meeting, and stressed that they wanted to further improve economic cooperation with Turkey.

Ersumer is expected to return to Turkey today.

[13] TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN BULGARIA

Bulgarian Presidency said the three Presidents will convene in the tripartite summit which became traditional, and discuss Kosovo problem, developments in the region, and the position of Southeastern European Stability Pact.

The Presidents will also take up important infrastructure projects in the region, and look for ways of cooperation to implement the projects.

The three presidents will sign a final statement at the end of the summit.

Presidents of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania had convened last year in Sinaya city of Romania.

[14] ''AMPLE TRAIN 1/2000 MANOEUVRES'' - TURKEY TO JOIN IN THE MANOEUVRES WITH TWO F-16 PLANES

General Staff General Secretariat said Ample Train 1/2000 Manoeuvres will be performed in Corsica region of France between March 27 and 31.

A total of 23 combatant planes from Belgium, Italy, Britain, Spain, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, and France, other NATO countries.

[15] NEW PERIOD IN BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECT

The project which should start officially on January 1, 2000, was delayed for three months as the negotiations between Georgia and Azerbaijan took long.

In accordance with the Istanbul Declaration, which was signed during the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Istanbul in November 1999, the project should be put into practice officially on January 1, 2000, and the oil should be flowed to Ceyhan in April 2004.

The problem in the inter-government agreement negotiations between Azerbaijan and Georgia was solved when Azerbaijan gave Georgia a part of the transit tariff amount it will take from the line.

Following the agreement between Azerbaijan and Georgia, all obstacles in front of the approval of the agreements, which were signed during the OSCE Istanbul Summit, were removed.

The agreements in question are expected to be approved by the Parliaments of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia till the end of April 2000.

Protection of environment, security of pipeline, nationalization, and tariffs became the problematic issues in the pipeline negotiations between Azerbaijan and Georgia that started in December 1999.

When the two sides failed to reach an agreement, these issues were also taken up during President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Tbilisi in January 2000, and the sides were called to convene in Ankara between January 21-22.

In these meetings which started in Ankara and later continued in Baku, demands of Georgia and clear specification of AIOC's conditions for passage were taken up.

Georgia demanded its exemption from financial liabilities for the pipeline in its territories during the implementation of the project, a guarantee for construction of the pipeline with European environmental standards, and 2-3 percent of oil in the pipeline in return for nationalization.

Following President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Georgia, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said they accepted the conditions for its responsibility from the security of the pipeline in its territories.

During Ajerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev's visit to Georgia on March 22, Haydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze announced that they reached an agreement on tariffs issue.

[16] AID TO QUAKE SURVIVORS FROM THE WORLD

The Disaster Area Coordinating Governorship said in a statement that 1,310 of the 2,541 vehicles transporting aid material to the coordination center were from abroad.

Germany, where almost 2,5 million Turkish citizens live, sent the largest amount of aid material with 617 vehicles. Italy ranked second with 123 vehicles loaded with aid material, and Sweden third with 72 vehicles.

Sweden was followed by the United States with 60 vehicles, Britain with 58, France with 47, Greece with 46, the Netherlands with 30, and Bulgaria with 25.

The number of vehicles loaded with aid material and the countries which sent the aid are as follows:

"Spain 21, Japan 18, Korea and Switzerland 15, Austria 13, Saudi Arabia 11, Pakistan and Belgium 10, Ukraine 9, the Czech Republic 8, United Arab Emirates 7, Denmark 6, Rumania 4, Slovakia, Norway, Azerbaijan and Africa 3, Australia, Bangladesh, Finland, Israel, Colombia, Hungary, Macedonia, Portugal, and Singapore 2, China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Scotland, Jamaica, Kuwait, Egypt, Poland, and Russia 1."

[17] EDUCATIONAL PROJECT WORTH 2,6 MILLION EUROS FOR TURKEY-EU HARMONIZATION

Speaking to reporters about the "EU Education Ministers Meeting" held on March 17th and 18th in Lisbon, Portugal, Bostancioglu said that the official inauguration of the ''Leonardo da Vinci II'', pertaining to technical and vocational education, and ''Socrates II'' for basic education took place during the meeting, and that the participants exchanged views on the matters that topped their agenda.

Drawing attention to the necessity of Turkey's participation in these programs, Bostancioglu said this was a golden opportunity for Turkey to restructure her educational system.

Pointing out that the European Union was intending to create an ideal ''European Youth'' within its boundaries, Bostancioglu added that these educational programs were aimed at bringing up a productive well-informed, cultured, and educated generation.

Bostancioglu went on to say that two infrastructure projects worth a total of 2 million 600 thousand Euros, 1 million 500 thousand Euros for the ''Leonardo da Vinci II'' program and 1 million 100 thousand for the ''Socrates II'' program, would be launched. He added that 80 percent of the cost would be provided by the Union and the remaining 20 percent would be met by the national budget, and that studies to complete the infrastructure project would take 18 months.

Bostancioglu said that the participants took up in detail the problem of ''xenophobia'' at the meeting in Lisbon, and that they came up with ''life- long education'' as a means by which this problem could be cured.

''The European Union aims at bringing up EU citizens. This aim can be achieved only by means of such an education that will discourage xenophobic trends,'' he said. ''From our standpoint, there is no such problem in Turkey,'' he added.

[18] SABANCI GROUP BECOMES LEADER OF IMKB IN 1999

Sabanci Holding issued Thursday a statement and said that Sabanci Group surpassed its closest rival by 83 percent when the profit amount in 1999 were taken into consideration.

The paid capital, gross and net profits and tax reserves of the public limited companies of these groups last year are as follows:

(TRILLION TL)
. NUMBER OF
. PUBLIC LIMITED PAID GROSS TAX NET
NAME OF GROUP COMPANY CAPITAL PROFIT RESERVES PROFIT
---------------- ---------- ------- -------- --------- --------
SABANCI GROUP 13 525.4 612.7 190.3 422.4
CUKUROVA GROUP 5 269.6 335.2 89.2 246.0
DOGUS GROUP 4 268.2 248.0 63.9 184.1
KOC GROUP 18 228.9 170.9 55.0 115.9
FIBA GROUP 5 86.4 109.0 30.4 78.6
ALARKO GROUP 3 17.3 52.9 11.1 41.8
ANADOLU GROUP 9 66.7 48.5 21.6 26.9
AKIN GROUP 3 23.6 35.8 10.2 25.6
AKKOK GROUP 3 16.7 29.4 11.3 18.1
ECZACIBASI GROUP 5 28.1 20.2 7.4 12.8
PROFILO GROUP 1 3.5 12.0 2.8 9.2
YASAR GROUP 10 54.9 5.0 3.6 1.4
BORUSAN GROUP 2 2.4 4.9 1.8 3.1
ENKA GROUP 3 10.1 3.6 1.4 2.2
TOTAL 84 1601.8 1688.1 500.0 1188.1

[19] EIGHTH TURKISH STATES AND COMMUNITIES CONGRESS TO START ON FRIDAY

Sources said Prof. Dr. Abdulhaluk Cay, the Minister of State and Chairman of Turkish States and Communities Friendship, Brotherhood, and Cooperation Foundation (TUDEV) would make the opening remarks of the congress.

President Suleyman Demirel, President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Devlet Bahceli, the Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister will attend the congress.

The chairmen of the delegations of TRNC, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Tunisia, Chuvashia Republic, Karachay- Cherkessia Republic will address the congress.

Also the representatives of autonomous Saha-Yakutia, Altay, Tatarstan, Crimea, Gagaouz, Balkar, and Dagestan Republics; Romania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Western Thrace, Nogay, Kumuk, and Ahiska Turkish communities will participate in the congress.

The congress will last three days.

''Social Management and Laws'', ''Education-Training'', 'Culture'', ''Science and Technology'', ''Economic, Commercial, and Financial Relations'', ''International Affairs and Communication'' will be discussed during the congress.

A statement will be issued at the end of the Congress.

[20] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM GOES TO TUNISIA

Cem is expected to arrive in Tunisia late on Thursday and start his contacts on Friday.

Cem will have a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Sait Bin Mustafa on Friday. On Saturday, he will be received by the Tunisian President before he returns home on Sunday.

[21] TURKEY AND HUNGARY SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT TO STRUGGLE AGAINST CROSS-BORDER CRIMES

Addressing the signing ceremony, Security General Director Turan Genc said, ''organized crimes led to emergence of concept of cross-border crimes. All countries should cooperate to struggle with these crimes.''

Genc said the countries signed agreements and protocols to cooperate in struggle against those crimes, Genc said Turkey and Hungary would cooperate in struggle against human and illicit drug smuggling, international organized crimes and exchange experience, information and technology in these fields in accordance with the agreement.

Hungarian National Border Guardians Chief Commander Joszef Bendek said in his part that human and illicit drug smuggling, international organized crimes and terrorism negatively affected the social life.

[22] REACTION TO FIRE OPENED ON TURKISH FISHING BOATS BY UKRANIAN COAST GUARDS

Staging a press conference, Ismet Yalcin, the Chairman of the Istanbul Fish Producers Association, said that the Ukranian Coast Guard boats, early on Wednesday, opened fire on five Turkish fishing boats sailing nearly 110 miles south of Ukranian shores.

Yalcin said the incident was followed-up by the radios and they informed the Coast Guard Commandership and Foreign Ministry on the incident.

''As far as we followed-up the incident through the radios, one fisherman was shot dead, one fishing boat sank and two other fishing boats were taken hostage. According to the radio records, the name of the Turkish fisherman who was shot dead is Durmus Cinar. Whatever the reason was, murder of a Turkish fisherman, and fire opened by coast guard boats can't suit principles of maritime, modernity, and humanity. We condemn this attack,'' he stressed.

Zafer Murat Cetintas, the Advisor of the Association, said in his part that Ukraine continuously polluted the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea with its oil tankers, and heavy metals, and that lastly it attacked on the Turkish fishermen.

Stressing that they couldn't understand the reason for opening fire on fishing boats in a peaceful atmosphere, Cetintas said, ''They are polluting our seas and killing our fishermen. Today, our fishing fleet has thousands of upgraded ships. If they get angry, they do not allow the passage of even an Ukranian ship from the Straits. We are inviting Ukraine to adopt principles of peace. They are not the only owner of the Black Sea.''

Ahmet Menekse, the Chairman of the Marmara Fishermen's Cooperatives, said that fire can't be opened on the territory of a ship in accordance with international laws.

Recalling that there were five Turkish fishing boats in the place when the Ukranian coast guard boats opened fire, Menekse said one fishing boat sank, two others were taken to Odessa port, and the other two fishing boats managed to escape from the attack, and they were now returning back to Istanbul.

Recalling that he encountered a similar attack on March 13, 1991 in international waters, Sariyer Fishermen's Cooperative Chairman Mehmet Sahin said their boat was riddled after the attack.

Noting that the maximum speed of the fishing boats can be 12 miles per hour, Sahin said the Ukranian coast guard boats can catch fishing boats without opening fire.

[23] TURKISH AIRLINES START FLYING BETWEEN ISTANBUL AND SALONICA

Speaking at a ceremony held on the occasion at Salonica's Hotel Macedonia, State Minister Yalova said that the relations between Turkey and Greece were getting better every day.

Pointing out that the two communities had finally overcome their prejudices and an atmosphere under which peace and friendship could flourish was finally established, Yalova added that common geographies, histories, and cultures brought different communities even closer.

''The two consecutive earthquakes in Turkey and Greece brought our peoples closer, and proved Greece to be a sensitive neighbour,'' he said, and added that the relations between the two countries were getting better and better every day.

''That was a great chance to experience in person, the things we read, pictures we saw, and stories we heard about the opposite coast of the Aegean'' Yalova said, referring to the great interest Turkish people displayed towards Greek holiday resorts over the ''Feast of Sacrifice'' holiday.

Director General of Turkish Airlines Yusuf Bolayirli, who also took the floor at the ceremony, said that the first time when a THY passenger plane flew to Athens was in 1947, and expressed belief that the friendly ties between the two countries would be strengthened once more after 53 years, with the beginning of direct flights to Salonica.

[24] YUGOSLAV CHARGE D'AFFAIRES SAYS SITUATION IN KOSOVO IS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE NATO OPERATION

Slavko Kruljevic, Yugoslav Charge d'Affaires in Ankara, made an assessment of the present situation in Kosovo in a news conference at the embassy building on the occasion of the first anniversary of the NATO operation.

Kruljevic said that there were still human rights violations taking place in the region despite the presence of the peacekeeping forces, and that these violations targeted not only Serbs, but also other ethnic groups, including Turks.

Referring to statistical information on the losses suffered during the course of the 78 day NATO operation, Kruljevic said that there were about 70 thousand casualties-whose 30 percent, he alleged, was constituted by children. He added that houses, schools, and hospitals suffered heavy damage during the course of the operation, and that Yugoslavia was presently trying to heal these wounds on her own, without receiving any support from the outside.

He said that such international units as the KFOR, deployed in the region in the wake of the NATO operation, were acting against the related resolutions of the United Nations, and thus threatening the lives and safety of the inhabitants of the region.

Touching on Turkey-Yugoslavia relations, Kruljevic said that Yugoslavia was in favour of entertaining good and friendly relations and establishing cooperation with Turkey in the long term.

[25] UKRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY

Any statement was not made or issued prior to Ambassador Motysk's meeting with Foreign Ministry Consulate Department general Director Erkan Gezer.

Diplomatic sources said the Turkish side would ask the Ukranian side to take necessary measures to prevent re-occurrence of similar incidents.

Sources said the Turkish side would also convey to the Ukranian side that the ''right of compensation would be legally guaranteed''.

[26] A MODERATE EARTHQUAKE SHAKES MANISA

Officials at the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the earthquake was centered on Manisa.

[27] FIRE OPENED ON TURKISH FISHING BOATS - RELATIVES CAN'T HEAR FROM FISHERMEN

Mehmet Turan, the father of Mustafa Turan, 19, one of the missing fishermen, told the A.A correspondent that they were told by the officials said Ukranian coast guard boats

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