Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-02-17

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

17 FEB 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-BRITAIN-IRAQ - BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR CALLS PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYING THAT BRITAIN ATTRIBUTES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PROTECTION OF IRAQI TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

[03] TURKEY-ICC - ICC SECRETARY GENERAL CATTAUI: - ''TURKEY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN EMERGING MARKETS''

[04] TURKEY-GULF - PRESIDENT DEMIREL PHONES OMANI SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID AND THE UAE HEAD OF STATE SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHAYAN REGARDING THE SITUATION IN IRAQ

[05] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ADDRESSES GREEK NEWSPAPER: ''SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES DEPENDS ON MEETING OF THEIR OFFICIALS'' - ''TURKEY WISHES TO SET UP GOOD RELATIONS WITH GREECE''

[06] TURKEY-MONACO - TURKSAT-2A AGREEMENT - CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT FOR THE COMMUNICATION SATELLITE SIGNED IN MONACO

[07] TURKEY-ACCIDENT - PRIVATE PLANE CRASHES NEAR BURSA PROVINCE KILLING THREE PERSONS

[08] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING - INTERIOR MINISTRY SETS UP COMMITTEES IN STATE OF EMERGENCY REGION REGARDING GULF CRISIS - FUEL OIL PRICES TO BE AUTOMATIC

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[12] IRAQI TURKMENS-US - IRAQI TURKMENS ASK FOR US PROTECTION

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 17, 1998

[14] TURKEY-IRAQ-UN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE CRISIS CONTINUES AND EVERYBODY IS WORRIED''

[15] TRNC-UN - THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CORDOVEZ TO VISIT CYPRUS

[16] TURKEY-CHINA - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BEIJING

[17] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- FEBRUARY 17, 1998

[18] TURKEY-GREECE - TERRITORIAL WATERS PROBLEM WITH GREECE

[19] TURKEY-US - US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SHATTUCK HOLDS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

[20] TURKEY IN BRIEF (3) - FEBRUARY 17, 1998

[21] TURKEY-INTERNAL - ''FUTURE'' TALKS IN CLOSED RP

[22] TURKEY-US - PREMIER YILMAZ RECEIVES US JEWISH COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

[23] TURKEY-RUSSIA - MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES ERSUMER IN MOSCOW

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) KEY NAMES IN ALIYEV COUP
The OMON group, which attempted to overthrow the Azeri President Haydar Aliyev were trained by special team members namely Korkut Eren, Ibrahim Sahin and Abdullah Catlı.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-BRITAIN-IRAQ - BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR CALLS PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYING THAT BRITAIN ATTRIBUTES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PROTECTION OF IRAQI TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Ahat Andican, the Minister of State and Government Spokesman told reporters that ''Tony Blair spoke to Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz during the course of the cabinet meeting. During the conversation, Blair said that Britain was opposed to any division of Iraq. Mr. Blair also told Yılmaz that he would send his Special Representative Sir David Hannay to Turkey within the coming days to hold contacts before the EU Foreign Ministers meeting.''

Responding to the questions of journalists at the end of the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz said that British Prime Minister Tony Blair told him on the phone that his special representative Sir David Hannay would visit Turkey to improve the relations between Turkey and the EU and to convey the political and technical proposals of Britain.

''Britian knows that Turkey will not participate in the European Conference. I have confirmed this fact to Blair today. Their main aim is to overcome the problems between Turkey and the EU before the Cardiff Summit. In fact Britain very well knows that our attitude will not change,'' said Yılmaz.

Noting that Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey told him that the US respects the territorial integrity of Iraq, Yılmaz pointed out that during the meeting they took up the recent developments in bilateral relations since his visit to the US.

[03] TURKEY-ICC - ICC SECRETARY GENERAL CATTAUI: - ''TURKEY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN EMERGING MARKETS''

Cattaui, who proceeded to Istanbul after concluding contacts in Ankara, attended to a dinner organized in his honour by Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

In a speech at the dinner, Cattaui said that he does not support the idea that globalization prevents welfare.

Noting that Turkey was one of the the first five rapidly improving countries among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries according to its export and import averages between 1990-1996, Cattaui said, ''when we look at the estimations for the next ten years, the newly emerging economies will get a greater slice from the total world income than the industrialized countries.''

Emphasizing that Turkey has positive commercial relations with several important countries, Cattaui said that the strengthening of Turkey in the economic field cannot be thought to be apart from the multilateral global commercial system.

ICC Secretary General Cattaui will leave Turkey on Tuesday.

[04] TURKEY-GULF - PRESIDENT DEMIREL PHONES OMANI SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID AND THE UAE HEAD OF STATE SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHAYAN REGARDING THE SITUATION IN IRAQ

The Presidential Press Center said that ''President Demirel told Omani and the UAE leaders that all regional countries have responsibilities for overcoming the tension in Iraq and in this respect Turkey, which is a neighbouring state of Iraq and which is one of the countries adversely affected by the Gulf crisis, is staging initiatives in this framework. Demirel stressed that Iraq has to abide by all the concerned UN Security Council Resolutions. Turkey does not favour military measures as they will result in many negative consequences and the territorial integrity of Iraq should be protected.''

President Demirel told Omani and the UAE leaders that Turkey will continue to exchange views with them regarding this issue.

The statement noted that ''Both leaders expressed their pleasure over the initiatives of Turkey aiming to ensure stability in the region, adding that they share the views of President Demirel and they are ready for cooperation to disperse the tension.''

[05] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ADDRESSES GREEK NEWSPAPER: ''SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES DEPENDS ON MEETING OF THEIR OFFICIALS'' - ''TURKEY WISHES TO SET UP GOOD RELATIONS WITH GREECE''

Addressing a statement to the Greek newspaper ''Elefterotipia,'' Cem stated that the problems between Turkey and Greece can be solved by reciprocal understanding.

Noting that Turkey wishes to have good relations with Greece, Cem pointed out that the Madrid Declaration is an important step to improve Turkish- Greek relations and it should be taken as a criteria regarding the relations between the two countries in the future.

''Whenever there is a problem between two neighbours, the first thing they do is not to apply to court. They should hold contacts with each other and search for a solution,'' said Cem.

Cem stressed that the ''Wisemen Committee'' is a good idea aiming to improve Turkish-Greek relations, adding that it is not important whose idea it is.

Foreign Minister Cem pointed out that the Cyprus issue has become more complicated after the Greek Cypriot side applied for EU full membership and its desire to purchase S-300 missiles. Ismail Cem added that he is not that optimistic about the Cyprus issue, as he is about Turkish-Greek relations.

''The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be equally recognized with the Greek Cypriot side. We can not accept a federation on the island which is composed of one state and one community,'' said Cem, noting that the solution of the Cyprus question in the near future is not possible.

Foreign Minister Cem said that if Greece proposes that the armament of the two countries should be freezed, then Turkey will seriously examine this issue.

[06] TURKEY-MONACO - TURKSAT-2A AGREEMENT - CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT FOR THE COMMUNICATION SATELLITE SIGNED IN MONACO

Addressing the signing ceremony at the Monte Carlo Opera Foyer, Menzir stressed that the satellite agreement is an important cooperation between Turkey and France, adding that he believes that cooperation will bring good results in the future.

Henri Fisso, the Economy and Finance Minister of Monaco, said that he was very pleased to host the signing ceremony in Monaco.

Michel Delaye, the Vice President of the Aerospatiale Company, said that they had delivered two satellites to the Turkish Telekom up until now.

Necdet Menzir, Michel Delaye and Ilhami Aygun, the General Director of the EURASIASAT Company, signed the construction agreement. The EURASIASAT was set up for the construction of the satellite as a corporation of the Turkish Telekom.

Michel Sosso, the Communication Minister of Monaco, Sureyya Yucel Ozden, the Underseretary of the Ministry of Transportation and Mustafa Horata, the General Director of the Turkish Telekom also attended the signing ceremony.

The Turkish Telekom-Aerospatiale Corporation EURASIASAT will construct the TURKSAT-2A satellite. The Turk Telekom will share 51 percent of the corporation's capital.

The estimated cost price of the satellite is 260 million US dollars. The TURKSAT-2A will be launched by the French Ariane rocket at the end of 1999.

[07] TURKEY-ACCIDENT - PRIVATE PLANE CRASHES NEAR BURSA PROVINCE KILLING THREE PERSONS

The small Cessna plane, which took off from Istanbul, went down 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Bursa airport in heavy fog. The plane was engulfed in flames after the crash.

The bodies of two pilots and one technician were recovered from the wreckage.

The plane belonged to TERKIM Limited Company and was hired by a cargo firm.

[08] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING - INTERIOR MINISTRY SETS UP COMMITTEES IN STATE OF EMERGENCY REGION REGARDING GULF CRISIS - FUEL OIL PRICES TO BE AUTOMATIC

Addressing a statement at the end of the Council of Ministers meeting, Ahat Andican stated that the Ministry of the Interior has set up specific committees concerning the Gulf crisis headed by the emergency governor in the state of emergency region.

Andican noted that Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State who is also the Chairman of the Humanitarian Aid Coordination Council, informed the cabinet that all the needs of the region have been met.

Noting that a migration is out of the question in the region, Andican pointed out that there is not a great likelihood of this compared with 1991.

Ahat Andican stressed that the Council of Ministers made a decision on the principle of automatically regulating the price of fuel oil. The Council asked the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to prepare the legal infrastructure to this end.

Pointing out that the Council asked the Ministry of Tourism to prepare a new evaluation regarding the declaration of tourism regions and once again to bring this onto the agenda of the cabinet.

Ahat Andican quoted Gunes Taner, the Minister of State as saying that the repercussions of the Gulf crisis on the Turkish economy will be less and Turkey will be affected to a limited degree by the crisis.

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PRESIDENT CONFERS WITH MUBARAK ON IRAQ
President Suleyman Demirel conferred with the leaders of the Arab countries, including his Egyptian counterpart, Husnu Mubarak, on the phone on Saturday. Demirel and Mubarak exchanged concerns over a possible military strike against Iraq and the grave consequences this action could bring to neighbouring countries. Other high-level talks will follow, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said during a weekly press conference yesterday, without giving details on these future talks. Utkan said that Turkey was hopeful that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to the region and his efforts may ease the crisis. Demirel had earlier spoken with Jordan's King Hussein on this matter.

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz met with Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Ankara yesterday. It was reported that they exchanged views regarding the Iraq crisis. /Sabah-Hurriyet/

PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT FRANCE
President Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to France between February 19-20, on the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac. During his contacts with French officials, Demirel will discuss bilateral relations, as well as issues of regional and international importance. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TARGETS CHINESE CONSTRUCTION MARKET
In a concrete move towards enlarging her economic horizon in Asia, Turkey has offered to launch construction projects in China, a proposal that Beijing has welcomed. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is currently on an official visit to China, made the proposal during talks with Chinese Foreign Trade and Economy Minister Wu Yi yesterday.

The parties agreed that Turkey should submit a project package to China in 15 days, outlining specific construction projects. Yi noted that China focused on the development of middle class housing and expressed hope that Turkish contractors would be chosen to carry out their construction. The plans to launch Turkish Airlines (THY) flights to Beijing and Shanghai were also presented to the Chinese officials. Yesterday, Cem also held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen. Cem and Qichen discussed the continuing crisis in the Gulf and decided to intensify the information flow on this issue between their two countries. /Milliyet-Sabah/

TURKEY'S EU STANCE
Turkey will not alter her decision to cancel her previous dialogue with the European Union (EU), but will move ahead with an extensive effort to launch a new and different process of talks, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said yesterday. ''The government has decided to sever its comprehensive and multidimensional dialogue with the EU due to the bloc's discriminatory attitude towards Turkey at its Luxembourg Summit. This decision will be maintained if the EU does not revise its stance'' Gurel said in an opening speech at the second meeting of the EU Coordination Council.

However, Gurel clarified his remarks by saying that the government aimed to continue and improve its relations with the EU within the framework of the 1995 Customs Union (CU) agreement. This depends on the EU's fulfillment of its basic obligations under the agreement, he added. In a related development, the Turco-EU Joint Customs Union Committee gathered in Brussels yesterday. The committee discussed problems arising from CU functions. /Cumhuriyet/

(To be continued)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

US-TURKISH TIES
More than 500 Turkish businessmen, scholars, diplomats and journalists will attend the 17th annual conference on US-Turkish relations in Washington D.C. between February 25-28, the president of the Turkish-US Business Council declared yesterday. During the four-day conference, members of the council will hold meetings with members of the US Congress, and visit American think tanks, international organizations and leading academics. /Cumhuriyet/

ISRAELI EXPERT TO ADVISE ON INFLATION
An Israeli advisor to the World Bank, Prof.Nissan Liviatan, will prepare a report on reducing inflation in Turkey. Liviatan, who met with economy bureaucrats and State Minister Gunes Taner last week in Ankara, suggests that inflation can be reduced to 10 percent in 18 months. /Sabah/

BLAIR'S IRAQ GUARANTEE
British Prime Minister Tony Blair phoned Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday and gave guarantees to Turkey regarding Iraq's territorial integrity. Blair said, ''We attach importance to the territorial integrity of Iraq. We do not want political integrity in Northern Iraq to be damaged. Furthermore, we want to carry on good relations with our ally, Turkey.'' Yilmaz recalled that Turkey would not attend the European Conference. Yilmaz noted regarding his talks with Blair that ''They had some proposals to restore Turkish-EU relations. They want relations to be normalized until the Cardiff Summit. To this end, they will send a special envoy to Turkey.'' /Milliyet-Hurriyet/

CEM: ''LET'S TALK FIRST''
In a statement to the Greek ''Elefterotipiya'' newspaper, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, ''Countries which cannot reach a consensus of opinion, first hold meetings, and if they still cannot reach agreement, then they apply to a court. Our basic aim is to meet, discuss and try to solve the problems. Everything begins with communication.'' Cem pointed out that a solution to the Aegean problems could be found through the 33rd UN article, which calls for peaceful means for solving conflicts. Regarding the Cyprus issue, Cem said, ''It must be recognized that there are two equal states on Cyprus. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to find a solution to the problem.'' Cem also called on Greece to agree to mutual disarmament.

In his response to Cem's statement, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos noted that he could come together with his Turkish counterpart at any time, however the discussion of bilateral problems was out of the question. He said that bilateral problems could be solved only at the International Court of Justice. /Milliyet/

(To be continued)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

BURSA PLANE CRASH
A Cessna C 421 type private plane, carrying cargo from Istanbul to Bursa, crashed yesterday due to intense fog near the Village of Dagyenice close to Bursa. As a result of the crash, pilot Emin Aydin and second pilot Celal Mehmet Agaoglu and his brother Sertac Agaoglu died. /Hurriyet/

ADDITIONAL NATURAL GAS AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA
An agreement for the supply of additional Russian natural gas will be signed this week in Moscow. Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources will go to Moscow today as the official guest of the Russian Minister of Foreign Economic Relations. Ersumer's visit is important from the standpoint of signing an agreement for an extra 8 billion cubic metres of natural gas. It is expected that during Ersumer's visit, the Black Sea Pipeline and Baku-Ceyhan projects will also be discussed. /Hurriyet/

TURCO-PAKISTANI COOPERATION
Turkish and Pakistani officials met in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad yesterday for the 11th term meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation. During the meeting, a cooperation protocol was signed. Turkey and Pakistan further agreed to establish a joint marketing company to make exports to third countries. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY EMERGES AS THE LEADER IN CEMENT PRODUCTION
According to a report from the Union of Central Anatolian Exporters' Unions, in 1995 Turkey produced 2.4 percent of world cement production. In 1995, Turkey was the tenth largest cement producer in the world and in 1996 was ranked 8th with respect to volume of cement production. In 1996, Turkey was the largest cement producer in Europe. /Cumhuriyet/

ICC ADVISES TURKEY TO FORM AN INSTITUTION FOR ''INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION''
The General Secretary of the International Chambers of Trade, (ICC), Maria Livanos Cattaui, who has been visiting Turkey, yesterday gave a message to the Turkish government. ''If Turkey wants to increase international investments, then it should form an institution for international mediation'' said Cattaui, during meetings with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and State Minister Isin Celebi. She also mentioned US complaints about the lack of an institution of this kind, which so far has not been established in Turkey for constitutional reasons. /Hurriyet/

TOURISM HEAVEN: TURKEY
It was reported that a 14.65 percent increase was achieved in the number of tourists visiting Turkey in January compared with the corresponding period last year. According to a statement made by the Tourism Ministry, in January persons coming from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) topped the list, while German tourists ranked second and Romanian tourists ranked third. /Sabah/

[12] IRAQI TURKMENS-US - IRAQI TURKMENS ASK FOR US PROTECTION

The leader of Iraqi National Turkmen Party Mustafa Kemal Yaycılı told the A.A correspondent that ''security should be ensured in Kirkuk and the region against Saddam's administration under the guidance of Turkey just like the northern part of the 36th parallel. We asked the US for help to this end.''

Noting that the Iraqi National Turkmen Party is holding contacts with the US officials in Ankara, Yaycılı added that the US officials did not welcome a protection like the 36th parallel, yet they promised to ''protect'' the Turkmen people.

Yaycılı stressed that they are concerned about a possible attack from the Talabani forces in the north and several religious groups in Iran are interested in Kirkuk. ''We just wish a secure Kirkuk, because the Baghdad administration killed 150 people in Kirkuk in 1991 claiming that the Turkmen people revolted. If the peshmergas enter Kirkuk, then it means that the Iraqi administration can also come. This is an humanitarian issue. Kurdish or Turkmen, everybody needs protection in case of a military strike against Iraq. If there is a chaos, a migration will definitely occur, in this respect we have to prevent the migration,'' said Yaycılı.

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 17, 1998

Suleyman Hatinoglu, Hayrettin Uzun and Cemal Ozbilen, the Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputies, Fikret Uzunhasan, the Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) Deputy, Metin Arifagaoglu, the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy, Orhan Kavuncu, the Grand Unity Party (BBP) Deputy, Victor Chikaidze, the Georgian Ambassador to Ankara and Hasan Oz, the Deputy from the Welfare Party (RP) closed by the Constitutional Court are the members of the delegation led by Refaiddin Sahin.

Ismat Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister, will represent the State Ministry during Sahin's visit to Georgia.

ANKARA - The General Staff organized a three-day tour including Southeastern Diyarbakir, Siirt and Sirnak Provinces for the foreign reporters living in Turkey, it was reported on Tuesday. The tour started the same day.

The General Staff held a briefing for foreign reporters at the Inonu Hall including the issues of ''the structure of Turkish defense'', ''terrorism of the separatist terrorist PKK organization'', ''some countries that support the PKK'', ''sources that finance the PKK'', ''combat terrorism'', and ''human rights''.

The Southeastern Tour will last until February 19.

COMOTINI - A delegation including the Parliament Human Rights Commission members arrived in Western Thrace on Monday to make observations on the problems of the Turkish minority.

The parliamentary delegation, which entered Greece from the Ipsala border gate, was welcomed by Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, the General Consul in Comotini.

The delegation including Suha Tanik, the ANAP Izmir Deputy, Cafer Gunes, the RP Kirsehir Deputy, Osman Kilic, the DSP Istanbul Deputy, Erdogan Kilic, the CHP Manisa Deputy and Ali Kılic, the expert reporter, will attend the two trials of the Turkish parents who complained about the biased Turkish school textbooks prepared by the Greek administration for the Turkish minorities. They will visit Xanthi on Tuesday.

EDIRNE - The Turkish-Bulgarian motorway, which was closed due to flooding on the Bulgarian side, opened for traffic late on Monday.

AYDIN - Yuksel Yalova, the Acting Leader of the ANAP, said on Monday that the construction process of the Aydin-Izmir motorway will be concluded and put into service by the end of this year.

Addressing a press briefing at the Aydin Provincial Center of the ANAP, Yalova said that they provided the required funding for the construction of the motorway.

ANKARA - President Suleyman Demirel approved the Council of Ministers' decision on Monday regarding the entering into force of the agreements concerning the commercial and export credits to finance the ''Satellite Ground Terminal Station Project'' being implemented by the Istanbul Technical University.

The Presidential Press Center said in a written statement that the Council of Ministers' decision foresees that the commercial and export loans will be provided by two American banks.

ANKARA (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel on Tuesday received the International Solar Energy Society's Turkish Section Chairman Erdal Coskun and the accompanying delegation at the Cankaya Presidential Palace.

President Demirel emphasized that civilization cannot live without energy.

Stating that their aim is to introduce solar energy and spread it throughout the country, Coskun said that Turkey has a very high potential for solar energy and that kind of energy would contribute to the energy demand in Turkey.

[14] TURKEY-IRAQ-UN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE CRISIS CONTINUES AND EVERYBODY IS WORRIED''

Responding to a question, President Demirel said, ''the crisis continues and everybody is worried about it. I have talked to Hosni Mubarak and several leaders of the Gulf countries and we have to launch efforts to prevent a military strike.''

Responding to another question, President Demirel stated that ''conditions do not exist to permit a world war at the moment, yet a war can erupt anytime whenever one lights a match. I hope this will not happen.''

[15] TRNC-UN - THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CORDOVEZ TO VISIT CYPRUS

Sending a message to Glafcos Clerides, who has recently been elected again as the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, Annan said that he will send his special representative Diego Cordovez to Cyprus soon.

Kofi Annan reiterated his promise to find a lasting solution for Cyprus in his message to Clerides.

The Turkish Cypriot officials had earlier said that the negotiations would be held between two equal states, rather than two communities after the decision of the European Union (EU) to start full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side.

Cordovez is expected to convey his impressions in a report to the UN Secretary General about his contacts on the island.

[16] TURKEY-CHINA - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BEIJING

Speaking during the meeting Cem verbally conveyed President Suleyman Demirel's good will messsage to Zemin.

Demirel in the message expressed pleasure over the close relations between the two civilizations and appreciated the political and economic relations and invited the Chinese President Zemin to Turkey.

Cem, evaluating his meeting with Zemin, said they mainly discussed political issues particularly the Middle East.

Noting that China favored a peaceful solution, Cem said Zemin did not want a clash.

Cem said he briefed Zemin about his visit to Bagdad, adding that the Chinese President extended support for this initiative. He said during the visit both sides expressed willingness to be in close contact.

Cem said he told Zemin that Turkey was getting prepared to be very strong in the 21st century and that Turkey would be the largest terminal of the world energy corridor.

Foreign Minister Cem said Turkey understood her importance in Europe and Asia better and attributed more importance to China.

The Chinese President Zemin said that unity, integrity and the rights of sovereignty for centuries should be taken into consideration when entering into a new century.

Evaluating his other contacts in Beijing, Cem said Turkey attributed great importance to the improvement of economic relations between Turkey and China. ''Economic relations between us should explode within three years,'' he added.

Cem said political contacts between Turkey and China would contribute to the overcoming of Turkey's problems on the international platform.

[17] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- FEBRUARY 17, 1998

Sahin Batalli, the Chairman of the Southestern Anatolia Grain-Cereals Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that they exported 18.3 thousand tonnes of wheat in return for 5.5 million US dollars in January 1998.

The export of wheat in the same month last year was 37.4 thousand tonnes in return for 17.9 million US dollars.

Batalli said, ''we export wheat especially to Iraq, Iran and Azerbaijan. The crisis process in the Gulf caused a 69.2 percent decrease in the exports of wheat and a 37,3 percent reduction in the unit-price of exports.''

ANKARA - The governors and mayors of five provinces will convene on Wednesday in Amasya to determine a strategy for overcoming the pollution in the Yesilirmak region, it was reported on Tuesday.

The governors and mayors of Amasya, Tokat, Corum, Yozgat and Samsun Provinces will participate in the meeting titled the ''Yesilirmak Region Provincial Administrations Service Unity Meeting'' at the Amasya Governor's Office Conference Hall.

ANKARA - The representatives of non-governmental organizations will leave for Iraq this week to convey the demand to authorities regarding the destruction of chemical weapons in Iraq.

Akin Birdal, the General Director of the Human Rights Association (IHD), called the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, Turkish Union of Architects and Engineers Chambers, Contemporary Lawyers Association, Contemporary Journalists Association, Central Council of Turkish Union of Doctors, Turkish Union of Pharmacists and Turkish Middle East Foundation to participate in the ''Humanitarian Delegation'' that will visit Iraq.

IZMIR - The Izmir Ku&thorn;cenneti (Izmir Bird Paradise) will be Turkey's second Bird Paradise National Park, it was reported on Tuesday.

Mehmet Sıkı, Associate Professor at the Aegean University, Faculty of Science, Department of Natural Sciences, told the A.A correpondent that six ministries have positive approach for the announcement of the Izmir Ku&thorn;cenneti as a ''National Park'' and that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will conclude its observations within one month.

IZMIR - The price of cotton, which is transacted on the Izmir Trade Exchange (IZTB), decreased by ten thousand Turkish Liras (TL), it was reported on Tuesday.

Sadi Katircioglu, the Vice Chairman of the IZTB Executive Board, said on Monday that the price of cotton declined from 395 thousand TL to 385 thousand TL.

ISTANBUL - Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, left for Moscow on Tuesday as the official guest of the Russian Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Commerce.

Ersumer before his departure from the Ataturk Airport said that he will hold contacts about the ''Energy Cooperation Agreement'' signed between Turkey and Russia during his working visit.

ANKARA - The number of self-producing electricity installations in Turkey is rapidly increasing, it was reported on Tuesday. The production method of these installations is based upon the principle that ''produce your own electricty''.

There are 32 active self-producing electricity installations in Turkey and the construction process of 31 installations still in progress while the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources is still evaluating 51 other applications.

[18] TURKEY-GREECE - TERRITORIAL WATERS PROBLEM WITH GREECE

The Foreign Ministry statement recalled that a note was given to Greece on Feb 12 and a series of proposals were presented to Greece, adding that ''preserving of the existing breadth of the territorial waters in the Aegean is important for abiding by the Madrid Declaration. It is impossible to solve the problems in the Aegean before preserving the existing breadth.''

The statement said that showing reciprocal respect for the vital interests of the two countries in the Aegean and avoiding unilateral activities to this end was put as an obligation in the Madrid Agreement. It said, ''these two countries should meticulously abide by this obligation to reach a lasting, acceptable, peaceful and just solution.''

[19] TURKEY-US - US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SHATTUCK HOLDS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

Shattuck's visit was planned during Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's latest visit to the US in December. It was reported that Shattuck's first impression regarding the developments recorded by Turkey on the subject of human rights as positive.

The guest Assistant Secretary of State Shattuck, speaking with reporters after meeting with Turk said that Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz invited him to Turkey to cover the developments recorded by Turkey on the subject of human rights. Shattuck said he planned a four-day visit in a bid to observe the Turkish community, adding that the US was willing to have a more closer cooperation with Turkey on the subject of human rights.

State Minister Turk said that he would go to the US in return for Shattuck's visit and stressed that their first visit was a kind of evaluation.

Shattuck will proceed to Istanbul on Tuesday and will hold contacts in Southeastern Diyarbakir and Mardin Provinces regarding developments on the subject of human rights.

[20] TURKEY IN BRIEF (3) - FEBRUARY 17, 1998

Franjuk Anatoliy said their visit will play an important role in further improving the relations between Turkey and the Ukraine.

ANKARA - The General Staff gave a ''Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit'' to Commander Gen. Jehangir Karamata, the Chief of the Pakistani Land Forces in a ceremony held at the General Staff Headquarters on Tuesday.

Gen. Karamata, who came to Ankara as the official guest of Commander Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of the Land Forces, started his contacts in Turkey the same day.

Gen. Karamata met with Gen. Kivrikoglu.

Later Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff received Gen. Karamata, the guest commander.

TEHRAN - The Turkish Free Style Wrestling National Team including seven wrestlers and five managers arrived in the Iranian capital of Teheran on Tuesday. The National Team will participate in the 17th International Tahti Wrestling Tournament in Teheran.

The Free Style Tournament will start on Thursday and the semi-finals and the finals will be on Friday.

ANKARA - The protocol, which foresees cooperation between Turkey and Hungary in the field of energy, was signed in Ankara on Tuesday.

Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and Dr. Jozsef Hegyhati, the Undersecretary of the Hungarian Energy Ministry, signed the protocol.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Yigitguden said that the protocol aims at the realization of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of electrical energy, mines and natural gas.

Undersecretary Yigitguden said that the protocol also has the objective of realizing cooperation between the firms of the two countries in the Hungarian market and in the markets of third countries.

ANKARA - Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister, received on Tuesday Gen. Jehangir Karamata, the Chief Commander of the Pakistani Land Forces, who is currently holding contacts in Ankara as the official guest of Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief Commander of Land Forces.

Sezgin said in the meeting that Turkey and Pakistan support the same ideas and views on every platform.

[21] TURKEY-INTERNAL - ''FUTURE'' TALKS IN CLOSED RP

Deputies who talked with Erbakan in groups focused their talks on which base to establish the new party. Erbakan said he attributed importance to the views of the deputies and that he was there to listen to the views of the deputies.

Erbakan, will later evaluate these notes by using a ''poll'' technique.

Several ''revolutionary'' deputies were not positive towards to the idea of continuing with the Virtue Party (Fazilet Party).

The deputies said it would not be correct to enter elections with such a party, adding that they should also agree on a very strong name.

The deputies also told Erbakan that the RP which was opposed to the West earlier should relax its attitude and should assume an understanding that will provide for its integration with the world.

[22] TURKEY-US - PREMIER YILMAZ RECEIVES US JEWISH COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

Responding to the questions of reporters regarding the visit of the Jewish Committee Yilmaz said the US Jewish Committee convened once a year in Israel, ''they wanted to talk with me before going to Israel.''

Yilmaz said the meeting will mainly focus on Turkish-US relations, Turkish- Israeli relations, the latest situation in the Middle East and important projects in the field of energy. Yilmaz said the visit was aimed at friendship.

Meanwhile, Yilmaz also said he met with Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff and evaluated the situation in the Gulf, adding that they reviewed the military measures taken by General Staff with this objective.

Responding to a question about obtaining credit from the US related to the energy projects in the region, Yilmaz said both the US and the Jewish lobby in the US were interested in the energy issue.

Yilmaz said one of the mega projects in the world was the transportation of oil and natural gas to world markets and stressed that Turkey has expended intense efforts to take an active role in this project.

''These efforts will reach to a final outcome in 1998. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia will come together at the beginning of March and a political agreement will be disclosed,'' Yilmaz said.

The US Jewish Committee is composed of 33 people. The committee members will also meet with Chief of General Staff Karadayi, President Suleyman Demirel and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel.

[23] TURKEY-RUSSIA - MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES ERSUMER IN MOSCOW

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Ersumer said a feasibility report which was prepared by a German company with the support of the World Bank on the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline issue will be presented in Russia.

Ersumer said, ''we have come here to talk about energy cooperation which was prepared with the agreements signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries and the related issues. We will meet with Viktor Chernomyrdin, the Russian Prime Minister, Sergey Kiriyenkoile, the Russian Energy Minister, Rem Vyahirev, the Gazprom Chairman and Mihail Fradkov, the Russian Foreign Economic Relations Minister. We will review our cooperation with Russia in the field of energy.''

Stressing that it was not possible to reach a cooperation between Turkey and Russia on the oil issue, Ersumer said they would look for cooperation facilities during talks with Russia's state run oil company Lukoil.

When asked what kind of a cooperation could be made with Russia, Ersumer said, ''a feasibility report on the Baku-Ceyhan issue was given to us. We aim to make a presentation to this end. Turkey, with World Bank credit, had a German company prepare a feasibility study. They will design it and give it a final shape.''

Ersumer said, ''we may evaluate Baku-Ceyhan's preferability in bringing Russian oil to the Mediterranean in a sound manner. I never consider the doors to be closed.''

Ersumer said this presentation will be made in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and in the US.

Mentioning about the natural gas part of the energy cooperation Ersumer said, ''A company named Turusgaz was established on eight billion cubic meters of gas per year taken from the western line. Establishment of the company was concluded. The High Planning Committee has made a decision and increased its capital. We will sign the final agreement related to the company.''

''We will also hold talks about the Turkmen gases' Caspian transition,'' Ersumer added.

Ersumer said he would hold talks about the purchasing of Russian electricity from the West, via Georgia. ''We will discuss an agreement among countries,'' he said.

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