Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-01-12

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

12 JAN 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-DRUGS - POLICE SEIZES 21 KG OF CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE HEROIN IN EDIRNE PROVINCE

[03] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONVENES TO DISCUSS CLOSURE CASE OF WELFARE PARTY

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[06] TURKEY-US-ENERGY - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS US DEPUTY ENERGY SECRETARY GEE - CEM: ''A REGIONAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN TURKEY AND US TO IMPROVE EUROASIAN ENERGY CORRIDOR IS AT THE AGENDA''

[07] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CLOSURE CASE OF WELFARE PARTY - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECIDES TO FREEZE TREASURY FUND TO WELFARE PARTY

[08] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I RECEIVED SUSURLUK REPORT THIS MORNING'' ''I WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY AFTER READING IT''

[09] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - POLICE DETAIN 73 NORTHERN IRAQIS

[10] TURKEY-INDUSTRY - INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1997 RISES BY 10,3 PERCENT AND IN NOVEMBER BY 8,2 PERCENT

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JANUARY 12, 1998

[12] TURKEY-NORTHERN IRAQ - MEETINGS WITH PUK DELEGATION TO START ON TUESDAY

[13] TURKEY-ILLEGAL MIGRATION - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''TURKEY DOES NOT ROMANTICIZE THE ISSUE BY TALKING ABOUT GENOCIDE OR RECOGNITION OF REFUGEE STATUS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS''

[14] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU: ''TURKEY IS NOT THE ORIGIN OF ILLEGAL HUMAN SMUGGLING''

[15] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - 58 FOREIGNERS INCLUDING 45 IRAQIS ARRESTED IN EDIRNE IN TWO DAYS

[16] TURKEY-TRNC - ARMAMENT OF GECITKALE AIRPORT ON THE AGENDA IN RETURN TO ARMAMENT OF BAF AIR BASE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HÜRRİYET (LIBERAL)

MİLLİYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURİYET (LEFT)

It is claimed that the regulations, which took place of cancelled articles of the Privatization Law, are against the constitution. Besides, the government leads to international monopolies by its privatization program.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

BAYKAL'S EFFECT ON POLITICS
Although the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) is the fifth party in the parliament in respect of its members, it has an important effect on Turkish politics. CHP, which describes itself as opposition is an effective party in establishment of the government and in its continuation, acquired critical posts like Parliament Speaker and Foreign Commission Chairman.

RADİKAL (LEFT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

FINANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-DRUGS - POLICE SEIZES 21 KG OF CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE HEROIN IN EDIRNE PROVINCE

Customs police stopped the car of two Romanians trying to send abroad the heroin worth of 120 billion Turkish Liras, and found 21 chemicals and raw materials in hidden departments of the car.

Two Romanians were taken under custody.

[03] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONVENES TO DISCUSS CLOSURE CASE OF WELFARE PARTY

The Constitutional Court delegation will evaluate the evidence about the case during its meeting and if the report concerning the additional three evidence submitted by RP parliamentarian Seref Malkoc is completed, the delegation is expected to discuss this report.

Constitutional Court delegation carried out discussions regarding both form and merits of the case during its meetings last week.

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PM YILMAZ EVALUATES GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, in a programme on the private NTV channel over the weekend, commented on Turkey's political and economic situation and answered questions about his government. Mesut Yilmaz, saying that Turkey should give priority to fighting inflation, added: "We have come to the end of a period during which we have lived beyond our scarce resources". Yilmaz mentioned that if Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal promise to maintain support for the Motherleft-D coalition, his government could apply a one-year intensive economic programme to fight inflation.

Yilmaz said that providing no extraordinary developments arose, the government would not raise the price of consumer goods for the first six months of 1998. Yilmaz added that the retirement age should be 58 for woman and 60 for men. /All papers/

THY JET PLANE OVERSHOOTS RUNWAY, TWO INJURED
A Turkish Airways (THY) passenger plane overshot the runway when landing in heavy fog on Sunday at the Black Sea city of Samsun, slightly injuring two pilots. THY officials said the plane, a British-made Avroliner RJ100, was on a domestic flight from Istanbul to Samsun with 68 passangers. Damage to the tail and nose sections of the aircraft, which contain radar equipment, occurred in the incident, said a THY official. The pilots were fine, he added. /All papers/

FM CEM WILL PAY VISITS TO CHINA AND JAPAN
In the aftermath of the EU Luxembourg Summit late last year when EU countries shied away from granting Turkey EU candidate member status, Turkish foreign policy-makers decided to suspend political relations with EU countries. This decision had its impact on Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's programme for this year. Cem will limit his contacts with EU countries and will concentrate instead on improving relations with China, Japan, Arabian countries, the Turkish Republics and Balkan countries.

In February, Cem will pay a visit to China, and he is also planning to hold contacts in Japan. In a move to improve relations with the Arab world, Cem is also making preparations to visit Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. /Hurriyet/

PROTECTION IN AUTOMOTIVES DECREASES
Protection in the automotives sector has decreased by 10 percent in average. With the Import Regime published in the Official Gazette on January 9, Turkey realized a 10 percent harmonization with the Joint Customs Tariff in sensitive products. /Milliyet-Sabah/

FRIGATES ARRIVE IN TURKEY
Three "Oliver Hazard Perry" class frigates, which the US is handing over to Turkey on a grant and loan basis, will join Turkish Naval Forces today. The TCG Giresun, TCG Gemlik and TCG Gaziantep frigates will be handed over during a ceremony in a S.Carolina Naval Base. One of the frigates will sail to Turkey in March and the other two in April. /Milliyet/

NEW MILITARY COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL
One of the leading newspapers in Israel, den Haaretz has devoted wide coverage to a visit by Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu to Israel at the beginning of next month. An article in the newspaper recalled that in order to turn the Patton tanks deployed by Turkey into Merkava style tanks developed by Israel, the Israeli military industry has developed a special project called "Turkish structure". The article noted that it was a great technological success. /Milliyet/

(continues)

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE
New groups of prisoners in different prisons have started to go on hunger strike. Families of prisoners are trying frantically to draw public attention to the hunger strikes. In Erzurum, 370 political prisoners are on hunger strike to protest conditions in the prison. In Gebze Prison, 77 prisoners (suspected of being PKK members) went on a rotating hunger strike on Friday to support the Erzurum prisoners' hunger strikes, which are now into their 53rd day. Prisoners in Siirt Prison are on the 33rd day of their hunger strike. /All papers/

SARAL ASSUMES OFFICE AS ANKARA'S NEW POLICE DIRECTOR
Cevdet Saral took over office as the capital's new police director during a change-over ceremony on Sunday. During the ceremony, following a moment of silence for Ataturk, the career details of Saral and of his predecessor Mehmet Cebe were read out and the people attending the ceremony were given information about the services they have rendered so far. /All papers/

ANKARA: PANGALOS A 'DESCENDANT OF GREEK FASCISM'
Turkey on Saturday branded Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos as a 'descendant of Greek fascism' and rejected as racist his accusation that Ankara was conducting a genocide programme against its Kurdish citizens. "Today's descendant of Greek fascism and racism is again dragging the country into another adventure" the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written response to remarks by Pangalos. "Mr.Pangalos, with his racist provocations, is dynamiting Europe's well-being and the foundations of peace" the statement said. "Greek fascists under the leadership of those resembling Pangalos sent thousands of Greek Jews to the death camps, surrendering them to the German occupiers with their own hands" the statement added. /All papers/

WASHINGTON: NO WORLD RECOGNITION FOR 10-MILE GREEK AIRSPACE
The US State Department reaffirmed a policy position it has stated in the past: Washington does not recognize the ten mile air space Greece has unilaterally declared around its Aegean islands. Not only that, but "other nations" do not recognize it either" department acting spokesman James Foley said on Friday. /All papers/

TURKEY APPOINTS AMBASSADORS TO IRAN AND 12 OTHER COUNTRIES
A decree related to the appointment of Turkish ambassadors to Iran and 12 other countries was published in the Official Gazette on Friday. Sencar Ozsoy, former ambassador to Buenos Aires, was appointed ambassador to Tehran, and in this way diplomatic relations with Iran have been normalized. Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Osman Koruturk, was called back last year for ministerial duties in Ankara, following tensions in bilateral relations, and Turkey was represented in Tehran at the charge-d'affairs level for a couple of months.

New ambassadors were also appointed to Buenos Aires, Baku, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Islamabad, Vilnius, Tripoli, Tbilisi, Ashkabad and Singapore. /All papers/

ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER PRESSES FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE
Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer will meet today with the US Deputy Energy Secretary. During the meeting, the materialization of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project to carry Caspian oil to world markets will be discussed. /Sabah/

TRNC PRESIDENT VOICES ANXIETY OVER GREEK ATTITUDES
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that Greece and the Greek Cypriot community were pursuing very hazardous policies designed to resolve the Cyprus question at the expense of Turkish Cypriot's rights.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir is paying an official visit to Northern Cyprus to discuss recent developments regarding the Cyprus problem. /Sabah/

IMF OFFICIALS TO VISIT TURKEY
As IMF officials announced that their visit to Turkey will be postponed for one week, Turkish bureaucrats are busy making preparations for the visit. Economy specialists will meet ministers in charge of national economy and finance to brief them about the issues to be discussed with IMF representatives./Hurriyet/

[06] TURKEY-US-ENERGY - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS US DEPUTY ENERGY SECRETARY GEE - CEM: ''A REGIONAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN TURKEY AND US TO IMPROVE EUROASIAN ENERGY CORRIDOR IS AT THE AGENDA''

US Deputy Energy Minister Robert W. Gee, who holds contacts in Ankara met Foreign Minister Cem.

Addressing a statement after the meeting, Ismail Cem stressed that ''we made inquiries to this end. We hope that we can bring those countries together which produce Euroasian energy or which will send this energy via its territory and discuss what we can do regarding this issue. Later we will integrate this political dialogue with the issues of economy and energy and encourage concerned private firms to participate in these efforts.''

Noting that the final aim of these efforts is to transform Turkey into a country which is ''the main terminal of Euroasian energy,'' Cem added that this pecularity will strengthen the regional and global status of Turkey.

Cem stated that their other targets are to realize Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline, to strenghten Turkey and its region.

US Deputy Energy Secretary Robert W. Gee, in his part expressed the happiness US government feels by participating in Euroasian corridor dialogue.

Stressing that Turkey has a strategic importance, Gee pointed out that Turkey and US have common targets.

Robert W. Gee stressed that Turkey is to take decisions regarding its economic potential. ''US can play a constructive role in this regard,'' he added.

Robert W. Gee added that these decisions will be beneficial for the security of the world and energy resources and it will minimise political risk.

Noting that US will participate in important activities in the coming months, Gee said the dialogue will continue with the Turkish government and US Commerce Secretary William Daley will visit Turkey next week.

[07] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CLOSURE CASE OF WELFARE PARTY - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECIDES TO FREEZE TREASURY FUND TO WELFARE PARTY

Addressing a statement after the three-hour meeting of Constitutional Court, Dincer stated that ''the Court decided unanimously to accept the Chief Prosecutor's request with regard to the treasury.''

Responding to questions about the duration of the closure case of the Welfare Party, Dincer noted that the court delegation examines every document that exists in the files.

Constitutional Court while discussing a closure case took a precautionary measure for the first time and froze the fund the party would receive from the Treasury this year.

[08] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I RECEIVED SUSURLUK REPORT THIS MORNING'' ''I WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY AFTER READING IT''

Responding to a question of a journalist regarding this issue,

Yılmaz stated that ''I will do what is necessary after reading it.''

Responding to another question whether the report will be taken up during the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday or not, Yılmaz said, ''no.''

[09] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - POLICE DETAIN 73 NORTHERN IRAQIS

Police officials said that police took 73 Northern Iraqis including seven children and two women under custody, who entered Turkey without passports and who were planning to migrate to various European countries. During the operations police also captured Cafer Gulli from Northern Iraq and Tamer Sener on charge of smuggling these people to Europe.

Police also seized 12 Iraqi passports belonging to passangers of ''Ararat'' ship which was left with 825 illegal immigrants by its crew in Italy.

[10] TURKEY-INDUSTRY - INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1997 RISES BY 10,3 PERCENT AND IN NOVEMBER BY 8,2 PERCENT

State Statistics Institution (DIE) announced the November-97 results of its ''Monthly Industrial Production Index''.

The increase in total industrial production in first eleven months of 1997 was 10,3 percent according to the Index's results.

Industrial production of mining sector increased by 5,1 percent in November 1997 compared to same month in 1996. The production of that sector decreased by 13,1 percent in 1996. However, the production increased by 7,6 percent in first eleven months of 1997. The production increase in manufacturing industry was 9,1 in November 1997 and 10,9 percent in first eleven months of last year.

The increase in production in that sector was 5,5 percent in November 1996.

The production increase in energy sector in November 1997 was three percent and 7,6 percent in first eleven months of last year. That increase was 14,9 percent in November 1996.

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JANUARY 12, 1998

TRNC Presidency said in a written statement that ''intentional news'' regarding the organization of intercommunal talks in Geneva in April 1998 and regarding the conditional participation of President Rauf Denktas in those meetings had been spread out.

The statement said that the intercommunal talks were dead after the decision taken by European Union (EU), emphasizing the announcement that the future meetings would be held only between two governments.

It said that the date, place and the conditions of the meetings would be decided only by the authorities from two governments and the United Nations.

ANKARA - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay will pay an official visit to Egypt between January 14-20, it was reported on Monday.

Culture Ministry said that Talay will participate in several concerts to be staged in the Ottoman Convent in Cairo.

Talay will also meet his Egyptian counterpart to improve bilateral cultural relations.

[12] TURKEY-NORTHERN IRAQ - MEETINGS WITH PUK DELEGATION TO START ON TUESDAY

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said in a press briefing for foreign reporters that the meetings with the PUK delegation will start on January 13, adding that the members of the delegation were from PUK politburo.

Utkan said that Barham Saleh, an official from PUK, and PUK's representative to Washington will participate in the meetings.

[13] TURKEY-ILLEGAL MIGRATION - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''TURKEY DOES NOT ROMANTICIZE THE ISSUE BY TALKING ABOUT GENOCIDE OR RECOGNITION OF REFUGEE STATUS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS''

Addressing a press briefing to foreign journalists, Utkan stated that recognition of political refugee status to illegal immigrants will make the issue more difficult. How can European countries which shut down their doors to the people escaping from the pressure in Bosnia, have the opportunity to condemn Turkey regarding Northern Iraqi immigrants which enter Turkey illegally, said Utkan.

Recalling that the unstable atmosphere continues in Northern Iraq, Utkan pointed out that Turkey is ready for cooperation and still expects the response of several countries to this end.

Utkan stressed that Turkey did not sign the ''declaration'' issued after the Rome meeting, where Germany, France, Greece, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands participated, because several points were lacking in the declaration.

Noting that the declaration did not mention about the role played by the separatist terrorist organization regarding illegal immigration, Utkan said ''other concerned countries like Egypt and Sri Lanka should have been invited to the meeting, because there were 172 Egyptian citizens in Ararat ship and 103 Sri Lankan citizens in Kometa ship.''

Utkan pointed out that the main reason behind this illegal immigration movement is the desire to search for better life, adding that ''this does not only happen in this region, this is a general tendency. Migration from east to west, from south to north is a reality. This also happens in Asia, South America and Asia.''

''Several countries try to accuse Turkey. Meanwhile, countries forget the reality that Turkey has always been a country which attracted many immigrants. In 1991, approximately 500,000 Northern Iraqi people migrated to Turkey within a week. Jews from Germany, Spain and also Iranian, Bosnian or Turkish people from Bulgaria came to Turkey as they think it is a safe country,'' said Utkan.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Utkan noted that there are other crime organizations that acted together with the separatist terrorist organization PKK which organized the illegal immigration.

Noting that PKK is only a part of this formulation, Utkan added that Italian press mentioned the names of several mafia groups.

[14] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU: ''TURKEY IS NOT THE ORIGIN OF ILLEGAL HUMAN SMUGGLING''

Addressing the news broadcasted in state-run television channel TRT-1, Basesgioglu recalled that the problem of illegal immigration continues since 1970s and this issue does not only concern Turkey, but also the Middle Eastern and European countries.

''Several European countries claimed that 'Turkey forces people living in Southeastern Turkey to migrate and these illegal immigrants who tried to enter Italy illegally are victims of war and they should have the status of political refugee', which are all wrong. Turkey rejects these ideas,'' said Basesgioglu.

Noting that Turkey is a transit country, Basesgioglu pointed out that people living in Northern Iraq, Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and other African countries want to migrate to the west due to ''social depression.''

Stressing that the nearest door that opens to west is Turkey, Basesgioglu added that Turkey takes necessary measures against foreign people who pass from its borders illegally.

[15] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - 58 FOREIGNERS INCLUDING 45 IRAQIS ARRESTED IN EDIRNE IN TWO DAYS

Edirne gendarme captured 58 foreigners including 45 Iraqis, nine Algerians, one Senegalese, one Nigerian, one Pakistani and one British in military zones of Edirne province.

[16] TURKEY-TRNC - ARMAMENT OF GECITKALE AIRPORT ON THE AGENDA IN RETURN TO ARMAMENT OF BAF AIR BASE

TRNC sources say that TRNC President Rauf Denktas is expected to propose deployment of permanent Turkish troops in Gecitkale airport to Turkish officials.

Noting that there are 35,000-40,000 Turkish soldiers in TRNC, the same sources stated that this issue is expected to be taken up during Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanır's contacts in TRNC.

Addressing a statement to A.A correspondent, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that all kind of measures will be taken to install the security of TRNC.

''We see that the Greek Cypriot side launches efforts to deploy military troops including foreign ones in Cyprus. We will not stay indifferent to these initiatives,'' said Gurel.

Noting that the security of TRNC is very essential for Turkey, Gurel added that ''we will not give up defending the rights of Turkish Cypriot people.''

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