Tomorrow sees the start of an important meeting in Washington about economic developments between Turkey and
the US. Both Turkey and the US want to see the Economic Cooperation Committee revived, and top advisor in the Prime
Ministry, Emre Gonensay will therefore represent Turkey in the talks.
Turkish government officials say that the talks are extremely important to Turkey. Thirty-three people are
included in the delegation that will work to set up new trade and other agreements with the US that will include a
double taxation agreement and a new deal between the Turkish and US Eximbanks.
Other areas of economic cooperation that will come under discussion include more cooperation about environmental
issues, with the US providing technology transfers in return for base concessions. Likely there will be talks about
patent rights as wellincluding unlicenced mass production of videos and cassettes. /All papers/
Turkish military forces are combing the hills in northern Iraq -flushing out pockets of PKK separatist resistence.
Operations in and around the central point of Zakho continue at maximum intensity as military units try to block every
avenue of escape.
Some reports from the region say that more mobile units are being deployed to reach the more inaccessible areas in the
mountains. Although reports do suggest that many PKK terrorists have already fled the region, Turkish forces are
still finding large caches of weapons and other materiel.
There are even some reports that military units penetrating deep into PKK country have discovered poppy fields being
cultivated by the PKK, with a view to using the drug product as a way of financing their terrorist attacks.
In the meantime, messages of concern about the deepening complications in northern Iraq and the likelihood of Turkish
forces staying longer than first anticipated have come from the US and some European Union (EU) countries.
So far in the military operations, 172 terrorists have been killed, and twelve have been taken alive. Losses in the
Turkish forces are reported to be low. /All papers/
President Suleyman Demirel approved the Cabinet reshuffle made by the junior coalition partner, Republican People's
Party (CHP), following an hour's meeting with Prime Minister Tansu Ciller on Sunday evening.
Demirel was the first to congratulate his former partner, Erdal Inonu, on his appointment as foreign minister in the
new cabinet.
The new deputy prime minister and chairman of the unified CHP, Hikmet Cetin is reported to have considered party
balances when making the appointments.
New ministers are as follows; Onur Kumbaracibasi-State Minister, Aysel Baykal-State Minister, Algan Hacaloplu-State
Minister, Ziya Halis-State Minister, Mehmet Mogultay-Minister for Justice, Erdal Inonu-Foreign Minister,
Erman Sahin-Public Works Minister, Aydin Guven Gurkan-Labour Minister, Hasan Akyol-Industry Minister, Ercan
Karakas-Culture Minister, Irfan Gurpinar-Tourism Minister. /All papers
Greek Ambassador to Ankara Alexander Philon has made his official farewell to President Demirel, making way for
successor Dimitrios Nezeritis, the Anatolia news agency said on Monday.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Willy Claes will visit Turkey on March 29-30 for official
talks, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In his first visit to Turkey since he took office in September,
Claes will confer with Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller,
Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin and Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan. /All papers
Silifke will welcome a group of 60 youths from European Union countries on June 26-29 for a "warming-up" meeting
with young Turks, the Anatolian news agency reported. The TL 1 billion gathering, funded by the European Council, was
the idea of the Council's Youth for Development and Cooperation (YDC) and the Turkish volunteer-run Friendly
Surroundings Group (ACG).
Twenty coal miners were killed in a coal-mine explosion on Sunday in the town of Sorgun in the Central Anatolian
province of Yozgat. The bodies of five miners were brought to the surface on Sunday night and 15 more dead were
recovered on Monday. Eight injured miners were rescued immediately following the explosion.
Ertugrul Ersoy, governer of Yozgat, said on Monday that the explosion, which took place at the Medsan coal mine near
Sorgun, appeared to have been caused by coal dust. He added that there was no evidence of methane gas accumulation
having caused the explosion.
The rescue operation is continuing at the pit and air conditioning equipment has been brought into operation 900
meters below the surface. /All papers
"Highway Safety Week" started in Ankara on Monday, organized by the United Nations European Economic Commission.
Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the occasion at the Police General Directorate, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese
pointed out the need for more highway education for both drivers and pedestrians. /All papers
The sixth international flower, greenhouse and gardening fair "Florantalya" begins today and will continue until
April 2 at the Antalya warehouses of the Ground Products Bureau. The fair, which aims to increase flower production
and sales, brings together some 32 companies from the United States, the Netherlands, Israel, Belgium, Spain, Austria,
Russia and Italy as well as 76 companies from Turkey. /All papers
The coalition government of Prime Minister Tansu Ciller has formally established an 'Economic and Social Council' an
idea first mooted by the first coalition government under the premiership of Suleyman Demirel.
The Council, seeking national consensus on key economic and social issues and policy making, will either be chaired by
the prime minister or by a Cabinet minister assigned by the prime minister.
It will be in charge of advising the political authorities, preparing regulations and ensuring coordination among
government and private sector agencies. /All papers
A second private ferry connection between the cities of Trabzon in Turkey and Sotchi in the Russian Federation will
start on April 3. The ferry will make two trips a week and has room for 700 people and 22 trucks. It also has
luxurious accomodations, a bar, a restaurant and air conditioning. /All papers/
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