Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-02-20

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

20 FEB 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-FRANCE (1) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS CHIRAC

[03] TURKEY-CHINA - FM CEM IN SHANGHAI - TURKISH TRADE AND INFORMATION OFFICE TO BE SET UP IN SHANGHAI

[04] TURKEY-US-IRAQ - TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON NUZHET KANDEMIR EVALUATES THE IRAQI CRISIS - KANDEMIR: ''TO SINGLE OUT SADDAM WOULD BE AN INJUSTICE FOR THE OVERALL SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE REGION''

[05] TURKEY-CROATIA - INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU RETURNS TO TURKEY - BASESGIOGLU: ''CROATIA WILL NOT TOLERATE THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION SHELTERING IN THIS COUNTRY''

[06] TURKEY-FRANCE (2) - CHIRAC: ''FRANCE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE FIRMEST SUPPORTER OF TURKEY'S DESIRE TO BE A PART OF EUROPE'' - ''PARTICIPATING IN EUROPEAN CONFERENCE WILL BE IN TURKEY'S INTEREST''

[07] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (1)

[08] TURKEY-UN-IRAQ - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN SENDS A LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO FOREIGN MINISTER CEM - ANNAN: ''I PRESERVE THE HOPE TO PREVENT USAGE OF FORCE''

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[10] TURKEY-FRANCE-CONFERENCE (1) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES A CONFERENCE AT THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INSTITUTE

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 20, 1998

[12] TURKEY-FRANCE-CONFERENCE (2) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''BEING A FULL MEMBER OF THE EU IS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL TARGET FOR TURKEY, BUT IT IS NEVER AN OBSESSION''

[13] TURKEY-US - US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SHATTUCK IN ANKARA

[14] TURKEY-FRANCE - TURKEY AND FRANCE SIGN THE 2000 DOCUMENT - DOCUMENT FORESEES THE STRENGTHENING OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

[15] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S INTERVIEW WITH THE FOREIGN PRESS

[16] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 77 IRAQIS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

[17] TURKEY-VIETNAM - FM CEM IN HANOI

[18] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS WITH FRENCH PREMIER JOSPIN

[19] TURKEY-US-ENERGY - KOC HOLDING AND AMERICAN UNOCAL TO MUTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR THE EUROASIAN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) WHERE DID YOU FIND THE MONEY MR. YAZICIOGLU
The Governor of Ordu Province and former Istanbul Chief of the Security Department Kemal Yazicioglu bought a luxurious apartment for his wife Hulya Yazicioglu.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL) SADDAM BRIBERY
A shocking allegation from Iraq's intelligence general Samarrai: Several Turkish politicians were given money.

SABAH (LIBERAL) CAKICI ENIGMA
The news report saying that Cakici was caught fell like a bomb on the agenda. The Prime Minister said that Cakici was caught and released yet Cakici said that it was not true that he was caught.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT) ''THERE IS NO MILITARY SUPPORT''
When he recalled that the US President Bill Clinton counted Turkey among the countries extending support to them during the Gulf crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said ''no meeting took place between Turkey and the US to contribute to a military operation.''

RADIKAL (LEFT) TAYYIP ERDOGAN REACTS TO ERBAKAN
Istanbul Mayor Tayyip Erdogan said the new party which will be established after the Welfare Party (RP) should not be for ''safekeeping.''

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL) WELFARE TO BE HISTORY TODAY
Constitutional Court's full verdict will be issued today. The writing of the full verdict concluded on Thursday. The court will convene for the last time on Friday to read it and will send it to the Prime Ministry to be issued in the Official Gazette.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) HISTORICAL VISIT TO FRANCE
President Suleyman Demirel who is the first Turkish President officially visiting France in 30 years, was received with great interest.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) DIALOGUE TO BE CARRIED TO CONGRESS
Another one was added to the interregional dialogue meetings. A delegation from the Churches' Union paid a visit to Fetullah Gulen.

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY) PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN FRANCE
President Suleyman Demirel started a two-day official visit to France on Thursday. Demirel said he hoped to exchange beneficial talks on the sources of tensions around Turkey.

[02] TURKEY-FRANCE (1) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS CHIRAC

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman responded to the questions of reporters following Demirel's meetings with the French President Jacques Chirac and other French Ministers.

Utkan said Demirel, during his meeting with Chirac stressed that Turkey was a ''symbol of stability'' in Caucasia, the Balkans and the Middle East.

During the meeting Demirel expressed the dissapointment Turkey felt over the Luxembourg Summit and gave the message that the Cardiff Summit which will take place in Britain was an opportunity for the EU to correct the injustice imposed on Turkey.

Demirel pointed out that Turkey became a model country after the splitting up of the former Soviet Union and stressed that the resolutions of the Luxembourg Summit caused dissapointment in Turkey and embarrassed those who supported the EU.

Stressing that the EU should fulfil its obligations towards Turkey, Demirel voiced the uneasiness felt about the discrimination imposed on Turkey although countries belonging to other blocs in the cold war period were shown as candidates for full membership in the EU.

Demirel said statements saying that Turkey was qualified to apply were not adequate and gave the message that the government could not develop policy based on such an uncertain concept.

Utkan said that the Cyprus question was also discussed during the Demirel- Chirac meeting and stressed that President Demirel pointed out that now the parameters had changed on Cyprus and that the full membership negotiations should be carried out on the basis of the two states.

Demirel also expressed the uneasiness Turkey felt about the deployment of the S-300 missiles which Russia would sell to the Greek Cypriot side.

Utkan said that the Iraq issue was also on the agenda of the meeting, and added that the two leaders had a consensus of opinion that military measures could result in grave outcomes and that the policies of Turkey and France concerning Iraq were very close.

In the part of the meeting mentioning Caucasia, Demirel gave the message that France, Co-Chairman of the Minsk Group, should play a more active role on the Armenia issue.

Demirel also separately received Minister Emile Zuccarelli, responsible for French State Reform and Delegate Minister Pierre Moscovici, responsible for European Affairs on Thursday.

The Ministers accompanying Demirel, the Foreign Ministry officials and Tansug Bleda, Turkey's Ambassador to Paris were present at the meetings.

Meanwhile, bilateral investments and economic relations were discussed in detail during Demirel's meeting with Domınıque Strauss-Kahn, the French Economy Minister.

The 50-billion dollar privatization, 30-billion dollar energy and 150- billion dollar defense industry projects were discussed during the meeting.

The French Economy Ministry proposed that Demirel should sign an agreement to promote and protect investments between the two countries. The delegations are expected to hold contacts on the draft of the agreement.

[03] TURKEY-CHINA - FM CEM IN SHANGHAI - TURKISH TRADE AND INFORMATION OFFICE TO BE SET UP IN SHANGHAI

Turkish diplomats and businessmen, the Deputy President of the Chinese Public Bank in Shanghai, the Chinese Aviation Department's Representative in Shanghai and the Deputy Chairman of the Chinese High Trade Commission also attended the meeting.

The sides conveyed their willingness for further improvement of the bilateral commercial relations in the meetings.

Ismail Cem visited the Pudong Special Economic Zone the same day and participated in the briefing held by the Pudong Administration for introducing the city.

Cem, who also held contacts with the officials from the Shanghai Bell company, visited the Shanghai Museum the same day.

Meanwhile, the plans for establishment of a Turkish Trade and Information Office in Shanghai, which is evaluated as the most important part of his visit, were implemented.

It was decided to establish an office upon a special recommendation of one section of the Consulate General that was set up a short time ago. The establishment of an office is targeted at providing an atmosphere of communication for businessmen who want to realize commercial relations in China and to ease the transfer of information about the economic relations between Turkey and China.

The Turkish General Consulate in Shanghai was officially opened with a reception. Addressing the reception, Cem said that he believes the economic and political relations between Turkey and China will continue to improve in the 21st century.

Cem said Shanghai will play a key role in bilateral economic and cultural relations.

Cem said the Turkish Trade and Informatıon Office will enable Chinese businessmen to obtain information about Turkey and the Turkish economy.

''We will construct a new Silk Road with the Turkish Trade and Information Office,'' he said.

Ismail Cem and the accompanying delegation will proceed to Hanoi on Friday, the last stop of their visit to China.

[04] TURKEY-US-IRAQ - TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON NUZHET KANDEMIR EVALUATES THE IRAQI CRISIS - KANDEMIR: ''TO SINGLE OUT SADDAM WOULD BE AN INJUSTICE FOR THE OVERALL SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE REGION''

''To single out Saddam would be an injustice for the overall security and stability of the region,'' Ambassador Kandemir told reporters.

Pointing out that he doubts the Iraqi leader will budge enough in the standoff on the UN weapons inspections to satisfy President Bill Clinton's demands, Ambassador Kandemir said that Turkey accepts Clinton's characterization of Saddam as a threat to the region.

''But the United States should deal with Iraq as part of a larger problem in the region. We have to keep in mind that we do not have only Saddam to fight against, but we have some others around as well which are a threat,'' Kandemir said.

[05] TURKEY-CROATIA - INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU RETURNS TO TURKEY - BASESGIOGLU: ''CROATIA WILL NOT TOLERATE THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION SHELTERING IN THIS COUNTRY''

Addressing a press briefing at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul after his arrival from Croatia, Basesgioglu said that Croatia accepts the PKK as a separatist terrorist organization and that Croatia will never tolerate the PKK sheltering in their country.

Pointing out that Turkey and Croatia have reached a consensus in the area of combatting drug smuggling, Basesgioglu said that Ivan Penic, the Croatian Interior Minister, will pay an official visit to Turkey in June 1998 and that Penic and he will cover the issues at a technical level.

[06] TURKEY-FRANCE (2) - CHIRAC: ''FRANCE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE FIRMEST SUPPORTER OF TURKEY'S DESIRE TO BE A PART OF EUROPE'' - ''PARTICIPATING IN EUROPEAN CONFERENCE WILL BE IN TURKEY'S INTEREST''

Addressing the dinner hosted in honor of President Suleyman Demirel, Chirac said that the resolutions of the EU Luxembourg Summit which took place in December, dissapointed Turkey adding that ''being someone who fully defended the realization of Turkey's desire to become a part of Europe in front of my European counterparts, I would like to persuade you that Turkey's desires were not blocked.''

Noting that Turkey's participation in Europe's expansion process was confirmed in writing and verbally, Chirac said Turkey was invited to the European Conference which will take place in London next week, adding that this was an indication showing the willingness for Turkey to participate in the EU expansion process.

Chirac, seeking to repair the damaging row between Turkey and the EU, said it was in Turkey's interest to attend the conference of prospective members.

''The European conference will have a dynamic all its own,'' he said. ''More than just a political dialogue, it will be the framework within which the architecture of tomorrow's Europe will be defined.''

Chirac said they carefully follow the developments has Turkey recorded in the struggle against terrorism by taking into consideration this struggle and the price Turkey has paid in this respect. Chirac said Turkey, which is a strong and respectable country, has all the required trump cards to overcome these problems.

Chirac said they attributed great importance to the re-establishment of friendly relations between Turkey and Greece, adding that to this end they expressed concern over the increase of tension in the Aegean. Chirac called on both Turkey and Greece to establish dialogue.

Mentioning the historical relations between Turkey and France, Chirac said that these two countries contributed a lot to world history.

Meanwhile, Demirel who participated in the dinner said Turkey was following the crisis between Iraq and the UN with concern, adding that ''Turkey stressed that the peaceful solution of the crisis between Iraq and the UN depended on the full implementation of the UN Security Council's resolutions and Iraq's abiding by these conditions without any resistance.''

Recalling that Turkey would celebrate the 75th anniversary of her Republic this year, Demirel said ''we always remember that France was the first western country recognizing the young Turkish Republic by rejecting the Sevres Agreement.''

Demirel said that the action plan on which the Turkish and French governments agreed to further improve the existing political, economic and cultural relations was a perfect initiative that should be applauded.

Stressing that Turkey was a factor of stability in the region in which it is located and a guarantee of peace and security, Demirel said that Turkey shared the national values of Europe in humanitarian issues. Demirel said Turkey could contribute to the efforts for cooperation on international peace and security and the regional economy.

Mentioning the Luxembourg Summit, Demirel said ''resolutions of this summit were perceived as Turkey's isolation from the EU and this received our justified reaction. Nevertheless Turkey will continue her faithfulness to her ideal for an integrated and democratic Europe. We hope that the EU would also possess this ideal. These 12 countries in which Turkey is also included should receive an equal evaluation.''

[07] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL MEETS WITH CHIRAC
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who went to Paris yesterday for a two- day official visit, met with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac. The Presidential Spokesman Catherine Collana said after the one-hour and 45 minute meeting of the two presidents that the main issue of discussions had been bilateral relations as well as Turco-European Union (EU) ties. Demirel stressed that Europe was not a geographic zone but a combination of values in which Turkey had its place. Chirac, indicated that the Luxembourg Summit had confirmed Turkey's eligibility for being a member of the EU. The two presidents were scheduled to continue their talks, most notably on Iraq during their dinner, she said.

''My conviction is that Turkey should come to the European Conference and be an active member because this conference is the family meeting of Europe'' Chirac was quoted as saying at the start of Demirel's visit. President Demirel, accompanied by a large delegation, was welcomed at Orly Airport by President Chirac himself. After national athems and military honors, Demirel, after a brief stop at his hotel, rejoined Chirac at the Elysee Palace. For the rest of the day, President Demirel received various French ministers -the Minister of Economy, the Minister of State Reform and Decentralization and the Minister of European Affairs. He then went to the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) where he delivered a speech. /All papers/

CEM URGES CLERIDES TO BE PRUDENT
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is on an official visit to China, said yesterday that ''Clerides, who is on the last leg of his political career, may at least now be more prudent in his attitudes''. Cem stated that Turkey would maintain its current stance on the Cyprus problem if a federation based on two equal states is not established on the island.

He criticized the current UN solution proposals for ''not being realistic''. Stressing that according to international law, a federation cannot be formed between a state and a community, he said, ''There is no need for imaginary objectives and imaginary accusations.'' /Milliyet/

ECEVIT CLARIFIES IRAQ SITUATION
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that a parliamentary decision was necessary for Turkey's support of a possible US attack against Iraq. He continued by stating that no discussion had taken place to date between Turkey and the US concerning Ankara's participation in a possible military strike. ''We have received no such demand up to the present time and we hope we will not receive one in the future'' Ecevit said. /All papers/

BOND EXPORTS WORTH USD 400 MILLION
Turkey has sold seven-year term bonds worth USD 400 million in the Eurobond market within the framework of a foreign debt programme. The interest rate in debts realized via JP Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney has been put at 9.875 percent. /Milliyet/

AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA
A ''Blue Stream'' project on Turkey's purchase of natural gas from Russia was initialled yesterday in Moscow. An agreement was signed between the Russian Stroytangaz and Turkish Hazinedaroglu and Oztas firms. Turkish Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer and State Minister Burhan Kara also attended the signing ceremony. With the agreement signed yesterday, the first concrete step was taken for the purchase of more natural gas supplies, which will be transported from Russia to Turkey through the pipelines under the Black Sea. /Milliyet/

(To be continued)

[08] TURKEY-UN-IRAQ - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN SENDS A LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO FOREIGN MINISTER CEM - ANNAN: ''I PRESERVE THE HOPE TO PREVENT USAGE OF FORCE''

It was reported that Annan's letter is a response to the letter of Cem which he sent aimed at briefing the UN Secretary General about his contacts in Baghdad.

Diplomatic sources said Cem sent a letter to Annan on Feb 9 to brief him about his contacts in Baghdad where he went to contribute to the solution of the crisis peacefully.

The same sources said Annan stressed in the letter that he carried out his efforts to find a solution to the crisis diplomatically with the support of the UN Security Council members and thanked Cem for the information he has given regarding his visit to Iraq.

In the letter Annan emphasized that contacts similar to Cem's initiative should be maintained to provide security and stability in the region, again adding that he was willing to prevent the usage of force which may lead to more suffering of the Iraqi people and that he kept his hope to this end.

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

ALBRIGHT TELLS CEM: ''WE WILL TAKE ACTION''
The US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright yesterday telephoned the Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is currently paying an official visit to China. Albright requested details about Turkey's stance on the Iraqi problem. Albright stressed that if the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to Baghdad fails, then the US will take action. Cem declared that Turkey was doing her best to avoid a war, but added that nevertheless Turkey was an ally of the US. Cem also said that he trusted that Kofi Annan would find a solution to the Iraqi problem. Cem added that if conditions were suitable, he will visit Jordan on 26 February. /Milliyet/

NEW RUNWAY FOR THE ATATURK AIRPORT
The construction of a third runway, which will increase the landing- departure capacity of the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul was begun with a ceremony yesterday. The Minister of Communications and Transport, Necdet Menzir, State Minister Ahad Andican, Istanbul Governor Kutlu Aktas, Security Chief Hasan Ozdemir and high-level officials from the Airports Administration attended the ceremony. /Sabah/

MINISTER BASESGIOGLU: ''CAKICI NOT CAUGHT''
The Minister of the Interior Murat Basesgioglu said that reports about the arrest of the wanted Turkish underworld figure Alaattin Cakici on the Spanish-French border were unfounded. Basesgioglu added that France and Spain have officially notified Turkey that Cakici has not been caught. /Cumhuriyet/

TATAR DELEGATION IN TURKEY
A Tatar delegation headed by the Tatar Parliament Speaker Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu is paying an official visit to Turkey. The delegation met yesterday with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin. Ecevit pledged to bring the issue of the rights of the Crimean citizens to the Council of Ministers. /Cumhuriyet/

WELFARE PARTY LOSES ITS CASE
A Constitutional Court majority vote yesterday cancelled article 103 paragraph 2 of the law regulating the activities of political parties, which is in contradiction to Article 69 of the Constitution which justifies the closure of parties acting against the principles of secular government, thereby removing the advantage the Welfare Party hoped to gain before making an application to the International Court of Human Rights where the party plans to seek the right to political activity. The decision will be put into effect after being published in the Official Gazette. /Hurriyet/

[10] TURKEY-FRANCE-CONFERENCE (1) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES A CONFERENCE AT THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INSTITUTE

Demirel, currently continuing his official contacts in France, addressed a conference at the French International Relations Institute.

He said the role which France played in Turkish political history and Turkish cultural life could not be ignored, adding that the values of nationalism which are based on secularism and concepts of citizenship are reflections of the French revolution and positivist doctrine and that the French Revolution was the source of Turkey's contemporarization projects.

Demirel said values like democracy, human rights, supremacy of law, implementations of the free market economy and sensitivity on the environment issue gained a national quality after the colf war period.

''But,'' Demirel added ''all these positive developments could be overshadowed by several tendencies threatening international peace and stability.'' He said the world, on the eve of a new century, unfortunately became a stage for extreme nationalism, agression, racism, hostility against foreigners, terrorism and intolerance.

Demirel said Turkey which is located at the intersecting point of various cultures and values of three continents, is one of the leading countries which is affected by all these developments.

He said Turkey, knowing this vital responsibility, is preparing herself for the role which she will take over in the 21st century. ''International terrorism, which Turkey has had to face, has caused the death of ten thousands of people. It is a mistake to justify or explain terrorism with concepts like democracy and human rights that we respect, believe in and are making an effort to improve.''

Demirel said the efforts Turkey expended to strengthen the independence and sovereignities of the Central Asian countries, the efforts expended to solve the Azeri-Armenian conflict and active contributions to establish peace and stability in Bosnia and Albania and the support expended to the Middle East peace process should be evaluated within this framework.

Demirel pointed out that the Mediterranean basin is one of the regions in which Turkey attributed importance for the establishment of peace, stability and democracy adding that Turkey and France share the same targets to instill values like democracy, human rights and the free market economy in the Mediterranean basin. Demirel stressed that the Mediterranean where peace, stability and welfare rule will be a guarantee for stability of the entire European continent.

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 20, 1998

The Istanbul Financial Branch Directorate officials said that they seized uninvoiced and unregistered electronic and kitchen appliances after their operation at two warehouses in the Bahcelievler district of Istanbul. Officials said that these goods were illegally brought into the country to be sold.

ZONGULDAK - Turkey realized four million US dollars in investments within the scope of the ''Development Project for Work Security in Coal Mines'' started by the Turkish Coal Administration (TTK) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1995, it was reported on Thursday.

Yusuf Celik, the Deputy General Director of the TTK, told the A.A correspondent that eight of their personnel received work security training and education in Japan within the scope of the project.

ANKARA - Anatoliy Franchuk, the Prime Minister of the Crimean Autonomous Republic, Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu, the Speaker of the Crimean Tatars Parliament and the accompanying Crimean delegation visited the Crimean Turks Culture and Solidarity Association in Ankara on Thursday.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ihsan Kirimli, the General Director of the association, said in the meeting that as the association, they are ready to give every support to the Ukraine and Crimea.

The Crimean delegation later paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of National Education and met with Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of National Education.

LEFKOSA - The TARIS Olive and Olive Oil Agriculture Sales Cooperatives Union and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Cooperative Central Bank signed on Thursday an ''Assistance and Cooperation Protocol'' foreseeing the development and improvement of the cultivation of olives in the TRNC.

Cahit Cetin, the Chairman of the TARIS Executive Board and Eren Ertanin, the Chairman of the TRNC Cooperative Central Bank Executive Board signed the protocol which also foresees commercial cooperation for the mutual marketing of the goods of the two cooperatives.

ANKARA - The Turkcell and Telsim announced on Friday that they will implement several arrangements to make the cellular phone calls less expensive after the approval of the Council of State for the GSM licence agreements signed by the Ministry of Transportation, Turkcell and Telsim.

The two companies said that cellular phone services will be spread throughout the country through the cellular phone call exchanges to be installed.

[12] TURKEY-FRANCE-CONFERENCE (2) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''BEING A FULL MEMBER OF THE EU IS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL TARGET FOR TURKEY, BUT IT IS NEVER AN OBSESSION''

Addressing a conference at the French International Relations Institute Demirel said Turkey fulfilled all her obligations stemming from the agreements signed with the EU, but added that ''the EU failed to fulfil its commitments. This situation causes the Customs Union to function against Turkey. It is our very natural right to expect that the requirements of the principles of 'Pacta sunt servanta' should be fulfilled soon.''

Demirel said it should not be forgotten that the course going to peace and stability passes through welfare. He said sustainable economic growth and development could only be reached with democracy.

''Turkey wants peace and stability to be established in this sensitive geography,'' Demirel said, adding that Turkey expended great efforts to improve economic and trade cooperation with the countries in the region.

Speaking about the Turkish economy, Demirel said according to World Bank standards, Turkey has the 17th largest economy in the world, adding that ''the brilliant future of the Turkish economy was specified in the international field and it was said that Turkey would be one of the 10 newly emerging markets in the world.''

Demirel said Turkey has a very improved infrastructure in the fields of transportation and communications, adding that apart from the US, the only factory where F-16 war planes are produced is in Turkey.

President Demirel also stressed that Turkey was a very attractive country for foreign entrepreneurs, adding that multi-national companies like Renault, Aerospatiale, Carrefour, Siemens, Philips, Chase, Coca Cola, Toyota and Honda preferred Turkey as the center for their regional activities. Demirel said Turkey is expected to be the regional production center of many European, US and Southeastern Asian companies in the next century, adding that Turkey's political-economic knowledge and experience, her proximity to very large markets, existence of cheap and high quality manpower and the extensiveness of her own domestic markets turn Turkey into a natural center of attraction.

Demirel said Turkey played a leading role in establishing bilateral and multilateral economic ties in the region and stressed that the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), D-8 and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) were the concrete products of these policies.

Mentioning the bilateral economic relations, Demirel said Turkey extended every kind of aid to the Central Asian Turkish Republics and Azerbaijan in the economic, social, educational, defense and cultural fields. He said that only the investments of the Turkish sectors in these countries reached more than five billion US dollars.

President Demirel said Turkey's both eastern and western ways were also reflected in the international organizations of which it is a member. He said Turkey is a unique country being a member at the same time of NATO, COE, OECD, BSEC, ECO, D-8 and the OIC.

''Our history with Europe existing for six centuries is an open evidence that Turkey is an inseparable part of the West,'' Demirel said, adding that it was very clear that the Turks contributed a lot to western culture.

Demirel said that Turkey would also assume the role of a natural bridge in the next century for transporting the natural resources of the Caspian and Central Asia. He said the Baku-Ceyhan project, which foresaw the transport of Caspian oil to the west and which also received a great support from the international community, presents the most stable and secure atmosphere for the oil transportation route.

Demirel said that Turkey regarded the usage of rich natural resources and their transport to the west as a golden opportunity for regional cooperation and to increase affluence.

Speaking about the Iraq-UN crisis Demirel said diplomacy should be used to the end, adding that ''I hope common sense will prevail in the end.''

[13] TURKEY-US - US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SHATTUCK IN ANKARA

Shattuck came to Ankara to observe developments in Turkey regarding human rights.

The Yilmaz-Shattuck meeting was closed to the press.

Shattuck also met with Korkmaz Haktanir, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary. No statement has been issued regarding the meeting.

Shattuck later attended Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Board meeting for 10 minutes. The updating of legal procedures for crimes of public servants was taken up in the meeting.

[14] TURKEY-FRANCE - TURKEY AND FRANCE SIGN THE 2000 DOCUMENT - DOCUMENT FORESEES THE STRENGTHENING OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Bertrand Dufourcq, the Undersecretary of the French Foreign Ministry and Tansug Bleda, the Turkish Ambassador to Paris signed the ''Turkey-France 2000'' document which aims to strengthen political cooperation and to set up a strategical dialogue between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

The document also foresees ''improvement of bilateral economic and commercial relations, ''preparation of a proposal for joint investments in third countries'' and ''improvement of cooperation in the fields of energy sources and transports of oil and natural gas''.

The document also plans to ensure understanding between the two countries, to let cultural and technical cooperation achieve a central position within the framework of respect for reciprocal identity and opening abroad.

Reliable sources said that priority will be given to the strengthening of the political cooperation between the ministries of the two countries that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France had agreed on at their meeting on January 8, 1998.

The two countries will seek jointly for the methods of enforcing peace and stability in the Mediterranean Region, the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Cenral Asia.

Within this framework, the two countries will organize several deputy undersecretary-level meetings to discuss in detail the regional, bilateral, multilateral, strategical and disarmament issues in particular.

The two countries will encourage the foreign politics research institutions to realize cooperation on geostrategical issues by making analyses about the issues concerning the two countries.

Turkey and France will determine the concrete measures to establish a consultation process regarding the modernization of the administration and State reform.

The exchange of opinions and views regarding the interior and justice will also be encouraged. The two countries will launch initiatives to improve the contacts between the parliaments of the two countries.

The realization of a more balanced structure for bilateral trade and the realization of joint ventures of the small and medium-scale enterprises in Turkey and in France are also foreseen by the document.

[15] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S INTERVIEW WITH THE FOREIGN PRESS

President Demirel received French newspaper and magazine journalists namely Le Figaro and L'evenement Du Jeudi, Paris Match and Le Point magazines, and responded to their questions regarding relations with the European Union, the Iraq-UN crisis, and the Constitutional Court's decision to close the Welfare Party (RP).

Demirel said the crisis in Iraq was not within the control of Turkey, adding that ''the crisis takes place outside of Turkey but it affects Turkey.''

Stressing that the problem should be solved through dialogue and by using diplomacy to the end and through peaceful means, adding that Iraq should abide by the resolutions of the UN.

When a French journalist recalled the statement of Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit which said the US was trying to split up Iraq and establish a Kurdish state here, Demirel said the US said that Iraq's territorial integrity should be preserved.

Demirel said there was an existing conflict in the Middle East which is the Israeli-Arab conflict. Solution of this conflict may last for ten or twenty years.

When asked if it was true that 5,000 Turkish soldiers entered into Iraq to establish a buffer zone, Demirel said there were no Turkish soldiers there at the moment. It is such now because as Northern Iraq is a no man's land, the Turkish army has to go across the border to render terrorists ineffective and then they return to Turkey immediately after.

Responding to another question, Demirel said he told the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to abide by what the UN said as a storm is coming, this is a serious issue.

Demirel said that he had the impression from Foreign Minister Cem that Saddam was not opposed to a peaceful solution of the conflict, ''we are not mediating, our efforts are aimed at contributing to peace.''

Demirel said the US is a very good friend of Turkey, but this did not mean that Turkey would follow it. ''Our national interests may not be in this direction. A new war in the Gulf will produce great damage in Turkey. At the first stage we are a neighbor country and at the second we are a member of NATO and cannot behave separate from it.''

Responding to another question, Demirel said Turkey was afraid of an immigration in case of a new war, adding that ''Iraq or groups in Northern Iraq incite the immigration that may come from Northern Iraq. This is just an estimation.'' Demirel said Turkey's main aim here is human rights and stressed that the army and the government would only help these people who immigrate, no force would be used.

When asked if Turkey would let the US use the Incirlik Airbase if a war comes onto the agenda, Demirel said ''the US has told us many times that she does not have a demand from us. We can not know what will happen tomorrow. This is a crisis and everything can be expected. If such a situation occurs, then the Parliament will decide about this.''

A journalist said that there was the PKK issue in Turkey, in what manner are you thinking of solving this problem? In response to this question, Demirel said Turkey would not give a piece of Turkey to anybody. The Kurds and Turks have lived together in Turkey for centuries.

Responding to a question regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court to close the Welfare Party (RP), Demirel said there would be great problems in Turkey if parties use religion. He said it was not Islam which was banned, it was the exploitation of Islam, adding that Turkey was very sensitive that the country should live in peace.

When asked if he still thought that the RP was a threat to politics, Demirel said ''no'', but they had violated the Constitution.

Responding to a question about whether saying no to Turkey in Luxembourg would incite radical fundamentalism, Demirel said ''to an extent, but fundamentalism will not threaten Turkey's stability.''

Speaking about human rights violations, Demirel said that there were human rights violations in many countries and stressed that this was not a state policy ''but the most important measure of human rights violations is democracy.''

[16] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 77 IRAQIS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

The Police and Gendarme officials stopped a lorry carrying 57 Iraqis including 18 children and 13 women near Kiremitcisalih village in Uzunkopru County.

Meanwhile, the police and Gendarme officials stopped a car and minibus carrying 20 Iraqis near the Station region in the Demirtas district in Uzunkopru.

Officials said that these Iraqis were trying to leave Turkey illegally.

Bunyamin Koklukaya, Ahmet Duman, Alaattin Karlikaya, Hakan Oner, Semsettin Atan, Talat Sinmez, Gunay Gursoy and Yucel Yilmaz, the guides of the illegal immigrants, were taken into custody.

[17] TURKEY-VIETNAM - FM CEM IN HANOI

Cem, who is the first Turkish Foreign Minister to visit Hanoi, met with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Manh Cam.

''You have a very special place in our hearts and minds. We are very far away, but we very closely followed what you have experienced. Especially my generation followed and appreciated your struggle for freedom and peace,'' Cem said, adding that he was very happy to visit Vietnam.

Cem said that Turkey desires to improve economic and technical relations with Vietnam.

Defining Cem's visit as ''an historic event between the two countries,'' Cam, said that Turkey is a developed country connecting Asia and Europe, and improving bilateral relations between Turkey and Vietnam will also positively affect cooperation.

Meanwhile a protocol to put into effect an Economy, Trade, and Science Agreement was signed between Turkey and Vietnam.

[18] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS WITH FRENCH PREMIER JOSPIN

An aide of Jospin responding to the questions of reporters after the meeting said that Demirel expressed the disappointment Turkey felt after the European Union(EU) Luxembourg Summit.

The French official said that Demirel requested support from Jospin to adjust the resolutions made by the EU about Turkey. Jospin in response said he understood Turkey's disappointment, but he wanted Turkey to review her decision not to participate in the European Conference. The French official also said that Demirel also asked French businessmen to make more investments in Turkey.

During the meeting Demirel said that solution of the Iraq-UN crisis peacefully depends on the attitude of the Baghdad Admnistration to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions. He also said that Iraq's territorial integrity should be preserved.

Demirel said that Turkey has not only regarded France as a traditional friend and ally, but at the same time as a source of intellectual and cultural inspiration.

Demirel who also addressed the Turkish-French Business Council meeting said that he invited the French private sector to cooperate and invest in Turkey. Demirel said that economically, Turkey rapidly becoming affluent.

Demirel said that Turkey's geographical location, her historical and cultural ties with Central Asia and Caucasia formed a natural base for Turkey to diversify her economy, adding that Turkey was a country which has adopted a pluralist democracy and the principles of a free market economy and has a developed economic structure.

''Turkey, although some circles do not want or find it appropriate, is a part of the European family. The Customs Union which went into effect between Turkey and the EU in 1996 opened important new horizons for expanding commercial ties and for providing economic integration,'' Demirel said, adding that ''Turkey fulfilled her commitments to this end and now expects the EU to show the same sensitivity.''

Recalling that Turkey would make an energy investment of 30 billion dollars in the upcoming period of 10 years, Demirel said besides making use of her own energy sources, Turkey was ready to play an important role in the transport of energy and obtaining shares from the reserves in the Caspian Sea and its surroundings.

Speaking about Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), Demirel said that this region was open to projects such as agriculture, irrigation and energy projects as well as transportation, communications, education and health.

Mentioning the contribution of the Turkish-French Business Council to economic cooperation Demirel said, ''I believe that at the first stage a seminar should be arranged aimed at the Caucasian and Central Asian countries.

Stressing the importance of the Caspian basin and Central Asian oil and gas sources for the future, Demirel said that this potential will be transferred to the western markets in the upcoming 10 years. ''Turkey will be the terminal for this. Turkey will start constructing the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline this year.''

Noting that he believed in the future of Turkish-French relations, President Demirel said ''an action plan will be signed between the two countries.''

Demirel also participated at a reception in his honor hosted by Paris Mayor Jean Tiberi and his wife.

Addressing the reception Demirel said that Paris has a special place in the minds and hearts of everyone.

Stressing positive relations between Turkey and France, Demirel said that these two countries expended efforts for a peaceful world and a Europe that is not separated.

Meanwhile, Demirel conferred a medal of merit on two French Turkologists due to their studies in this field.

A ceremony was staged at the Marigny Palace for conferring of the medals to the French Turkologists, Prof. Dr. Robert Mantran and Prof. Dr. Jean Paul Roux.

[19] TURKEY-US-ENERGY - KOC HOLDING AND AMERICAN UNOCAL TO MUTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR THE EUROASIAN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

Koc Holding said in a written statement that the feasibility studies will include the transfer of the existing Turkmen natural gas and Azeri natural gas to be exported in the future into the Turkish market via a line parallel to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.

The statement said that Botas had given the necessary permission for the feasibility studies, adding that the German Ruhras AG company's subordinate firm PLE GmBH company and the Unocal signed an agreement to set the technical details for the feasibility studies.

The statement said that the feasibility studies are expected to be concluded by the end of March.

Meanwhile, Ardem, Arcelik and Beko Teknik, the Koc Holding companies, will set up a corporation to produce and sell durable consumer goods in Tunisia.

Ardem will have a share of ten percent of the joint corporation, Arcelik will have a share of 45 percent and Beko Teknik will have a share of four percent of the joint corporation for which the capital is four million Tunisian Dinars (3.6 million US dollars).

The corporation will produce firstly refrigerators, ovens and washing machines.

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