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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-31Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>[01] AA News31 March 2000 Friday[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 31, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)13 NAMES AT BACKSTAGENew names were uttered at the backstage of the parliament which did not permit President Suleyman Demirel's second-term presidency in the first- round voting. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister and a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and Yildirim Akbulut, the Parliament Speaker and an ANAP deputy, are considered among possible presidency candidates. The other names which can be nominated for presidency are Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister and a DSP deputy, Tunca Toskay and Sadi Somuncuoglu, the State Ministers and MHP deputies, Kamran Inan, an ANAP deputy, D. Mir Mehmet Firat and Vecdi Gonul, deputies of the Virtue Party (FP), Dogan Gures and Kamer Genc, deputies of the True Path Party (DYP). BOOM IN TUPRAS TENDER MILLIYET (LIBERAL)ECEVIT PLAYS FOR HIGH STAKESPremier Bulent Ecevit warned those who voted against the constitutional amendment and called them to re-evaluate their attitude until the second- tour voting which will be held next week. Ecevit said that he will also think about everything till then. Ecevit implied that everything includes the resignation. FAMILIES MOVING IN PREFABRICATED HUTS IN BOLU SABAH (LIBERAL)BAD EFFECTS OF CANKAYA CRISISThe crisis which occured due to the constitutional amendment on the presidential elections, hit the stock market and increased the interests on the first day. The people got uneasy because they thought that the stability was in danger. The developments regarding the presidential elections caused tension as it started to shake the government. A harmonious government, a harmonious wheel of state, and a harmonious and quick parliament are in danger. GIANT PARTNERSHIP IN GSM TENDER CUMHURIYET (LEFT)NEW RAPPROACHMENT IN AEGEANThe Turkish and Greek war planes will visit the bases of Turkey and Greece in April. Eight Turkish war planes will land at a base in Greece while the Greek war planes will land at the military bases in Balikesir or Bandirma within the framework of the Dynamic Mix operation of the NATO. BOMB ATTACK TO DIE RADIKAL (LEFT)SECOND-ROUND DISCUSSIONS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON APRIL 5The Parliament approved the Advisory Committee's decision to hold the second and final round discussions on the Constitutional amendment proposal on April 5. In accordance with this decision, the parliament will discuss the proposal between 1.00-7.00 p.m. and 8.00-12.00 p.m. on April 5 and the deputies will vote for the proposal. If the discussions cannot be concluded at 12.00 p.m., the parliamentary general assembly will continue the discussions until they are concluded. MOBILIZATION FOR INFLATION YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)BOYNER TO GO PUBLIC WITH BBAThe Boyner Holding united the Beymen, Bennetton and Divaresse under the umbrella of BBA Inc. company. The target of the new company is including different trademarks in the company, laying groundwork for cooperation initiatives in international arena, and growing by buying new outlet chains. Thus, the BBA Inc. plans to go public in 2001. FP LEADER KUTAN: TURKIYE (RIGHT)MARKET IN SHOCKThe Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) Composite Index lost 1265 points in yesterday's second session. The composite interest in the repo tender of the Central Bank increased to 52 percent. The index decreased to 15686 points and the repo rate increased from 35 to 47 percent. CARKIN ARRESTED ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)COEPA DELEGATION VISITS MINISTERSThe Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) delegation visited Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister, and Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister. Following the meetings, Andras Barsony, the head of the COEPA delegation, said that their visits were routine. Turk said that Barsony and Zierrer are holding contacts in Turkey for the report they will submit to the COEPA in September. SECURITY OF TOURISTS TO BE DISCUSSED -ISRAELI NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER DEPARTS FROM TURKEY Ya'ari, who paid an official visit to Turkey as the official guest of Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the Naval Forces Commander, left for his country after wrapping up his contacts in Turkey. -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT IN INDIA State Ministers Abdulhaluk Cay and Edip Safter Gaydali, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Turkey's Ambassador to India Yusuf Bulut, various members of the Parliament, and Indian officials attended the ceremony. Ecevit, to whom journalists handed over a microphone following the ceremony, said that he had been wishing to see India since he was a child, and thus he was very happy to be there in the end. In reply to a question by an Indian reporter about what his views were on cross-border terrorism, Ecevit said that Turkey had long been suffering terrorism, adding that ''We are determined to continue to fight against this menace within the framework of human rights and democracy.'' After the official welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Ecevit and his spouse Rahsan Ecevit proceeded to Rajgat to lay a wreath on the tomb of Mahatma Ghandi. Ecevit also signed the monument's special book, and put down the following lines: ''I am honoured to express my own and my people's feelings of respect and admiration towards the life and personality of Ghandi. We shall embrace with love, the memories of great philosophers and politicians, who want peace to prevail on earth.'' Ecevit then proceeded to the Tac Palace Hotel reserved for his residence, and got together with Indian State Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs Ajit Kumarpanja. [03] TURKISH CYPRIOT HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR LEUKAEMIA BOYLEFKOSA - The Ministry of Health and Environment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is launching a blood donation campaign for two leukaemic kids, one Turkish, one Greek Cypriot.Minister of Health and Environment Gulsen Bozkurt said in a statement on Thursday that blood donation campaigns would be started on Friday at the Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu State Hospital's Thalassemia Center for 6 year old Andreas Vasiliu and 12 year old Kemal Saracoglu. Bozkurt pointed out that the campaign would be carried out in coordination with the Faculty of Medicine of the Istanbul University, and that blood samples to be acquired in Turkey would be scanned under the inspection of Prof. Mehmet Carin, Head of the Medical Biology Department. Bozkurt said that all samples tested, will be considered for not only Andreas and Kemal, but also for other sufferers of the disease. [04] GENERAL DANDIN, HEAD OF GENERAL STAFF'S PLANNING AND PRINCIPLES DEPARTMENT: - ''WE HAVE SOME EXPECTATIONS FROM THE U.S, WHICH IS OUR STRATEGICAL PARTNER''WASHINGTON D.C. - Batmaz Dandin, the Head of the General Staff's Planning and Principles Department, said on Thursday that Turkey has some expectations from the U.S., which is its strategical partner.Dandin spoke in the ''Defense and Foreign Policy'' session of the Turkish- American Council 19th Meeting. Dandin listed these expectations as the erasing of the military assistance loan debts that the U.S. had given to Turkey, not having problems in arms transfer, the guarantee on the transfer of the U.S. arms to third countries, the minimizing of the prices of the defense materials purchased from the U.S., and the U.S.' providing its necessary military equipment in the region from Turkey. Reminding his listeners that Turkey awarded the U.S. companies in the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar arms purchase program, Dandin noted that these companies were also included in the tenders of some projects, the total value of which were 12.2 billion U.S. dollars. Dandin stated that some problems are faced in the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement which was signed between Turkey and the U.S. in 1980. Later, this agreement turned into a military assistance loan, and it totally lost its effect in 1999, Dandin stressed. Dandin emphasized that the U.S. limited the arms transfer to Turkey by imposing some preconditions including Cyprus, Greece, and human rights. ''We cannot see any limitation in the U.S.-made weapons which exist in the disarmed islands in the Aegean,'' Dandin said. Dandin said that Turkey, which is a non-European Union (EU) country, should also be included in the European Security and Defense Initiative (ESDI). Turkey welcomes her new position as a EU candidate country, but this candidacy is not an advantage within the framework of the ESDI, Dandin noted. Dandin stated that Turkey's trade loss was 35 billion U.S. dollar due to the Gulf War and that this loss should be considered as a reality that can affect Turkey's attitude in similar situations in the future. Stating that the dialogue between Turkey and Greece which was launched in the level of foreign ministres was pleasing, Dandin pointed out that however, Greece has not responded in affirmative to the military good will measures in the Aegean which was proposed during Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's visit to Turkey. There are not any changes in the military relations between Turkey and Greece, the Turkish planes are harrassed in the Aegean, military maneouvres are exercised in holidays despite the agreements signed between two countries, and the armament continues, Dandin said. Dandin noted that Greece thinks that there is not any other problem in the Aegean except the continential shelf problem and that Turkey continues to have good will to solve the problems in the near future. Dandin also stated that Turkey considers Russia as a cooperation partner rather than an enemy which it can compete with and that Turkey and Russia exerts joint efforts to improve the security in the Black Sea, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The Russian-Chechen conflict in the Caucasus can spread to the regional countries, including Turkey, and Chechnya can turn into a country like Afghanistan, Dandin stressed. Dandin warned that a fundamentalist state can occur in Northern Caucasus, including some parts of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Turkey does its best to make better its relations with Armenia, Dandin emphasized. Dandin said, ''on one hand, Armenia wants to have good relations with Turkey. But on the other hand, it tries to use the historic allegations which have not yet been proved, as a source of political oppression against Turkey. This policy will worsen the present situation.'' The biggest risk in the Middle East is the fundamentalism and terrorism, Dandin noted. Dandin stated that everybody hopes that the results of the elections in Iran can bring forward better relations and that a better coordination in security and tourism can be provided. Turkey is against Iraq's separation, Dandin stressed. Dandin emphasized that Turkey has had to struggle against PKK terrorism and fundamentalism for 15 years. ''People can ask us why it took so much time to overcome these threats against our security, territorial integrity and regime. The answer is so easy. It took so much time due to our respect in human rights and the foreign assistance to these acts of terrorism,'' Dandin pointed out. Dandin said that Turkey wants to benefit from the opportunities in its relations with Syria, including the military field, and that Turkey expects similar positive approaches from Syria. The relations between Turkey and Israel carry importance for the regional security, Dandin noted. Dandin stated that Turkey is being criticised for these relations. However, this is considered as a very low price for the ensurement of the regional peace and stability, Dandin added. [05] TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETINGWASHINGTON D.C. - Baki Ilkin, Turkey's Ambassador in Washington, and Mark Parris, U.S Ambassador in Ankara were awarded on Friday for their outstanding services for the improvement of Turkish and U.S. relations, at the 19th annual meeting of the Turkish-American Business Council (ATC) in Washington.The awards were presented to the ambassadors by the co-presidents of the ATC, Mustafa Koc and Nancy Kasebaum Baker. Ambassador Ilkin said that Turkey's economy was growing with an increasing speed, and this found its reflections on Turkey's relations with the United States. He pointed out that the political, economic, and cultural cooperation relations between the two countries were also strengthening, and eventually, relations had reached a point at which they could be qualified as a ''strategic partnership''. Ilkin said that he expected U.S. investors to take greater interest in the opportunities that Turkey has to offer, particularly after the implementation of the economic reforms. Ambassador Parris in his part said that many of the targets to which he had pointed in a speech he had made back in 1998 had been reached over the past two years. He pointed out that the United States welcomed the Human rights reform package that State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik introduced in January, and added that they expected Turkey to put this package into implementation in the shortest time possible. Parris added that Turkey's efforts and steps she had taken recently towards bettering her human rights record, fighting againt high inflation rate and improving her relations with Armenia and Greece were worth appreciating. [06] ANAP LEADER YILMAZ: - ''AFTER PREMIER ECEVIT RETURNS TO TURKEY, LEADERS' SUMMIT WILL BE HELD''ANKARA- Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Friday that after Premier Bulent Ecevit returns to Turkey, a leaders' summit will be held.Responding to the questions of the journalists, Yilmaz said that the government has been stable and exerted stable initatives until today. Yilmaz added that he is in favour of the continuation of the coalition government. [07] TURKEY TO FURTHER DEVELOP TRADE WITH 13 AMERICAN STATESWASHIGNTON D.C. - A decleration of intent, foreseeing further developing trade relations between Turkey and thirteen American states was signed on Friday.Robert Byrd, Democrat Senator from West Virginia, who spoke at the signing ceremony, said that Turkish and American businessmen were aiming at strengthening commercial ties, as they stated in the declaration of intent. The thirteen American States are West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. The declaration was signed by Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S Baki Ilkin, U.S Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris, Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen, and the parliament members from the aforementioned states. [08] AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TURKEY ORGANIZATION HOSTS RECEPTION FOR TURKISH- AMERICAN COUNCILWASHINGTON D.C. - The American Friends of Turkey, a U.S. organization, hosted on Thursday night a reception within the framework of the Turkish- American Council meetings.After the fashion show of Atil Kutoglu, a Turkish designer, the messages of President Suleyman Demirel and U.S. President Bill Clinton were shown through the screens. Demirel stated that the relations between Turkey and the U.S. improved by the high-level contacts last year. The 21st century has brought significant roles to Turkey, Demirel noted. Demirel added that the private sector is the motivation of the bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.S. Clinton noted that he was pleased to experience the warm feelings and hospitality of the Turkish people and to see the beauties of Anatolia and Istanbul during his visit to Turkey. He was affected by the struggle of the Turkish people to heal the wounds following the quake which hit Turkey in August, Clinton added. Clinton reminded the participants that Turkey and U.S. exert joint initiatives in many fields. Turkey and U.S., as two allies, exert joint initiatives for the stability and peace in the Balkans and against the Iraqi threat, Clinton stated. Clinton stressed that the commercial relations between two countries gradually improve and that two countries try to establish an energy corridor between east and west. He welcomes the developments that Turkey has recorded in its relations with Greece, Clinton emphasized. Clinton said that the U.S. supports Turkey's European Union (EU) candidacy. Later, Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister, said that the long-term Turkish-American cooperation depends on mutual trust. Gurel noted that there are some uneasiness regarding Cyprus question. That there are two sides on Cyprus should not be forgotten, and the equality principle should be taken as a basis, Gurel stated. Gurel added that Cyprus should not negatively affect the Turkish-American relations. Mustafa Koc and Nancy Kasebaum Baker, the co-presidents of the Turkish- American Business Council, and William Daley, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, were granted the ''distinguished leadership award.'' [09] MARROW SEARCH FOR LEUKAEMIA BOYISTANBUL - Studies to find a compatible donor to Andreas Vasiliu, the six year old Greek Cypriot boy suffering from leukaemia, are continuing at Istanbul University's Bone-Marrow Data Bank.Prof. Mahmut Carin, Head of the Medical Biology Department told the A.A reporters that they found 16 persons, among the 56 thousand blood samples scanned, to be compatible for Vasiliu in the preliminary tests, and that these people were taking more tests for further assessments. He said that ten of these 16 people had already taken the tests, that the remaining six were understood to be outside Istanbul, but that they would arrive in Istanbul soon, for further assessments. Carin said there was yet nothing new. [10] BANK CREDITS VOLUME INCREASES 62.3 TRILLION TLANKARA - The banks credit volume increased 62.3 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) to 20 quadrillion 754.5 trillion TL between March 10 and 15.The total credit volume at banks was 20 quadrillion 688.2 trillion TL on March 10. The Central Bank data shows that the total credits in the system was composed of 1 quadrillion 253.5 trillion TL of loans given to financial sector and 19 quadrillion 500.9 trillion TL of loans given to non-financial sector as of March 15. The credits given to financial sector were composed of 620.9 trillion TL of loans given by deposit banks, 625.3 trillion TL of loans given by development and investment banks and 7.3 trillion TL of loans given by the Central Bank. [11] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - CURRENT BALANCE DEFICIT WAS 1.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS LAST YEARANKARA - Turkey's current balance deficit was 1 billion 364 million U.S. dollars in 1999.The Central Bank said on Friday that the current balance which had a surplus of 1 billion 984 million U.S. dollars in 1998, had 1.364 billion U.S. dollar deficit this year. The exports revenues decreased 1.4 percent, the luggage trade recessed 38.9 percent, and the import expenditures, including the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF), fell 11.4 percent in 1999. Thus, the foreign trade deficit stagnated 26.5 percent. (To be continued) [12] BALANCE OF PAYMENTSANKARA - Turkey's foreign trade deficit decreased 26.5 percent to 10 billion 447 million U.S. dollars in 1999.The foreign trade deficit was 14 billion 220 million U.S. dollars in 1998. The Central Bank said on Friday that Turkey's current balance deficit was 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in 1999. The net revenues gained from other goods and services and reciprocal transfers, decreased 43.9 percent to 9 billion 83 million U.S. dollars. Turkey's export revenues recessed to 29 billion 326 million U.S. dollars, including the 2 billion 255 million U.S. dollar luggage trade. The export revenues were 31 billion 220 million U.S. dollars in 1998, including 3 billion 689 million U.S. dollar luggage trade. The tourism revenues fell 16.1 percent to 5 billion 203 million U.S. dollars in 1999. The tourism revenues was 7 billion 177 million U.S. dollars in 1998. The interest revenues increased 5.3 percent to 2 billion 350 million U.S. dollars in 1999. The workers' incomes decreased 15.2 percent to 4 billion 576 million U.S. dollars in 1999. The net direct investments recessed 16.7 percent to 783 million U.S. dollars. The long-term currency loan usages decreased from 11 billion 505 million U.S. dollars to 11 billion 36 million U.S. dollars. The principal money repayments increased from 8 billion 174 million U.S. dollars to 10 billion 560 million U.S. dollars in 1999. The deposit bank accounts increased 370 million U.S. dollars while the official reserves climbed 5 billion 615 million U.S. dollars last year. The increase in official reserves was 216 million U.S. dollars in 1998. Turkey used 806 million U.S. dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while only paid back 286 million U.S. dollar loan in 1999. (The End) [13] INDIAN PRESIDENT NARAYANAN RECEIVES PREMIER ECEVITNEW DELHI - Kocheril Raman Narayanan, the Indian President, received on Friday Premier Bulent Ecevit.Usha Narayanan, Indian President's wife; Rahsan Ecevit, wife of Premier Ecevit; Edip Safter Gaydali and Abdulhaluk Cay, the State Ministers; Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister; and the parliamentarians accompanying Ecevit participated in the meeting. Later, the meeting was closed to the press. Following the meeting, Ecevit, his wife Rahsan Ecevit, the ministers and deputies joined the luncheon given in their honour by Narayanan. [14] A.A'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDEDANKARA - The regular General Assembly of the Anadolu Agency (A.A) was held on Friday in Ankara.Mehmet Guler, President of the Executive Board and Director General of the A.A, said that the A.A was closely following up the latest technologies, and that the WAP system was soon to be put into operation within this framework. Guler said that the year 1999 had been a year of big strides for the Agency, that the A.A had started making use of the latest technologies and providing information to internet companies, in addition to newspapers, magazines, radios, and tv stations, and that it was now ready to implement the WAP technology. Guler said that the net income of the Agency had constantly been increasing since he took office, and that it would continue to increase in the year 2000. Guler added that among the prospects of the Agency for the year 2000 was the digitization of news items and picture archives. Later on in the General Assembly, the new members of the Executive and Auditing Boards were elected. Mehmet Guler, Turan Yavuz, Sevgi Ulusay, Deniz Solen, and Murat Ali Sakal were elected for the Executive Board, and Osman Yazici and Cem Avci for the Auditing Board. [15] DIE ANNOUNCES GROWTH RATE IN 1999 AS -6.4 PERCENTANKARA - State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Friday that growth rate in 1999 was -6.4 percent.The growth rate in the last quarter of 1999 became -6.1 percent. DIE announced the results of gross national product (GNP) in 1999 and in the last quarter of 1999. DIE said the GNP with current prices in 1999 was 78 quadrillion 242 trillion 496 billion Turkish Liras (TL), and the growth rate with current prices was 46.2 percent, and -6.4 percent with fixed prices. DIE announced that the GNP per person 2,878 U.S. dollars. DIE said the GNP with current prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 became 23 quadrillion 698 trillion 141 billion TL while the growth rate with current prices was 48.5 percent, and -6.1 percent with fixed prices. [16] PKK MEMBER CAPTURED IN GERMANYBERLIN - A member of the separatist terror organization PKK was captured in Germany as he was crossing over from the Netherlands.The Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe said in a statement it made on Friday that the 35 year old Hasso S. was the ''Germany coordinator'' of the outlawed organisation. The statement also said that an arrest warrant against him had been issued back on March 2nd, that the said person had been in charge of Cologne, Bonn, Essen, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Dortmund, and that he would be tried on the charge of being a member of a terrorist organization. [17] INDIAN PRESIDENT NARAYANAN RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER ECEVITNEW DELHI - President Kocheril Raman Naryanan of India received on Friday Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.The meeting focused on relations between Turkey and Greece, the Cyprus question, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), and relations between Turkey and India. The dialogue between President Narayanan and Prime Minister Ecevit is briefly as follows: Ecevit : ''Turkey and India have key roles in the process of Eurasia. Many agreements can be signed between Turkey and India. A cooperation between the two countries can reveal that the West and the East can be united with each other. As cooperation agreements between Turkey and India develop, relations between the two countries will further improve. Narayanan: ''Our businessmen have undertaken the oil-prospecting project in Kazakhstan. We can cooperate in Kazakhstan. What is the latest situation in Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project?'' Ecevit : ''It has come to the final stage. Relations between Turkey and India will further improve after the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project is finalized.'' Narayanan: ''Your premiership is a great chance for Turkey.'' Ecevit : ''The Pakistani administration wants to set up dialogue with you to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem.'' Narayanan: ''The most important thing for us is to put an end to the terrorist activities in Kashmir. We expect Pakistan to take concrete steps to prevent use of force.'' Ecevit : ''Pakistan expressed its concerns over India's armament.'' Narayanan: ''There is a small increase in amount allocated to armament from the budget.'' Ecevit : ''I would like to brief you on our relations with Greece. It seems that a new climate emerged between the two countries. But the main issues have not been taken up yet. We have never made Turkey-Greece relations a material of internal politics. Concrete steps will be taken between Turkey and Greece following the elections in Greece. Undeniable facts should be recognized to find a solution to the Cyprus question. This fact is the presence of two states on the island. I do not mean a diplomatic recognition, but I mean recognition of facts.'' Narayanan: ''What I understood from your statement is that many countries had begun to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) gradually.'' Ecevit : ''A number of European academicians are working at the universities on Cyprus. Diplomas given by these universities are being accepted in many countries. A contact between Turkey and India in the field of education will be beneficial. We are learning from your reconciliation culture. Your government is a 22-party coalition. In Turkey, there are three coalition partners working in great harmonization.'' Narayanan: ''But the latest constitutional amendment was not adopted by the parliament.'' Ecevit : ''Yes, I am not pessimistic. Meanwhile, you have a special place for the Turkish people because you served as Indian Ambassador to Turkey.'' Narayanan: ''We closely monitor your relations with the EU. You will improve relations with the EU and become a full member in short period of time.'' Ecevit : ''Yes, we are trying to improve relations.'' [18] KDP DELEGATION'S CONTACTS IN ANKARAANKARA - Necirvan Barzani, the leader of the local government formed unilaterally in region controlled by the Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) in Northern Iraq, and accompanying delegation concluded their five-day visit to Turkey, and returned to Northern Iraq on Thursday.Sources close to the KDP delegation told the A.A correspondent that the Foreign Ministry told the delegation that Ankara was disappointed with refusal of Turkish firms' bids for humanitarian aid equipment tender of the United Nations to meet requirements of Northern Iraq. The KDP delegation told the Foreign Ministry officials that the tender was opened by the United Nations' Headquarters in Baghdad. The Turkish side expressed its concerns over the news reports saying that there were initiatives to found an independent state in Northern Iraq. The KDP delegation conveyed the message that they did not aim at founding an independent state, and that there were always good relations between KDP and Turkey. At the meetings, issues of border security and trade at the Habur border gate were also taken up. The same sources added that the KDP was satisfied with the meetings. [19] PREMIER ECEVIT SPEAKS IN TURKISH-INDIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETINGNEW DELHI - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Friday that the ''Turkish- Indian Business Council provides an excellent institutional framework to further the economic relations between the two countries.''Speaking in the Indo-Turkish Business Council meeting, Premier Ecevit, who is currently in India, said that ''I very much hope that the meetings of today will lead to concrete results, and that the entrepreneurs of both countries will now achieve a better evaluation of the great potentials that our countries have to offer.'' Ecevit said that it was the right time to identify new areas of cooperation that will augment the bilateral trade, foster the economic relations, and lead the two countries forward to joint-projects in third countries. ''Indeed, there is an ongoing convergence of interests between our two countries...Briefly the fact that we do not have any political dispute and the reciprocal warm feelings we hold to each other as Turks and Indians, should herald the advent of a new era in our relations. Yet I have to say that the level of our economic relations are far from being staisfactory. The volume of our trade lags far behind the existing potential, and our trade is not well-diversified. Indeed, a mere 350 million dollars in 1998, can not be regarded a significant sum measured against the global economy of today. Of course, the reason for this low volume of exchange is not lack of aptitude or desire. After all, both the Turks and the Indians trade with the world. The truth is neither the Turkish nor the Indian businessmen have been aware enough about the opportunities. Thus we must first address this problem and start to know each other better. In this endeavour, you will find both governments encouraging. In so far as opportunities are concerned, there are many. For instance, several gigantic infra-structure projects that will be materialized in the near future in both Turkey and India represent an untapped opportunity. Hence the construction sector is especially promising. Let me remind you that the Turkish construction companies have been very successful in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Russian Federation and Central Asian countries. Their portfolio exceeds 40 billion dollars, and they employ more than 50,000 people in 39 countries worldwise. These figures denote no less than a share of 10 percent of the global contracting sector,'' said Ecevit. Noting that the Indian people also have been writing many success stories, Ecevit said India is the largest democracy on earth. ''While we strongly desire to augment the level of our economic relations, I should note that the prospect of technological cooperation with India is particularly exciting for us. In this regard, hardware and software technologies are only one of the many opportunities we clearly depict,'' he said. Ecevit stressed that Turkey is a fast growing economy, adding ''the rate of Turkish economic growth has averaged 5 percent during this decade. Turkey is the 16th largest economy in the world.'' Turkey is ready to share her experience in the industry with India, said Ecevit and he gave statistical information about the Turkish economy. The negative effects of the global crisis have been largely overcome without any serious damage to the economy, Ecevit stressed. ''Istanbul is rapidly becoming a great metropolitan city with world- class facilities and cultural life. The regional headquarters of many multi- national companies are located in this city straddling Europe and Asia. Such developments also demonstrate that Turkey will increasingly be an important actor in the global economy of the new century. We resolutely pursue an economic reform programme aimed at curbing inflation down to the levels commensurate with the Maastricht criteria within three years,'' he said. Ecevit noted that ''by virtue of the historical decision reached at the Helsinki summit last December, Turkey is an official candidate of an equal- footing with other candidate countries. In economic terms, Turkey is already better aligned with the EU than other candidate countries. Five years ago, we have completed a customs union with the EU.'' ''Indian firms can take advantage of this status of Turkey in reaching the richer consumer markets of an enlarging Europe. Likewise, the Eurasian process offers a vast area of cooperation for our two nations as Europe and Asia become parts of a larger whole,''Ecevit ended his words. A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |