Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-04

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CONTENTS

[01] 04 MARCH 1998

[02] TURKEY-SPAIN - CEM MEETS WITH MATUTES - CEM SAYS THAT HE EXPLAINED TURKEY'S ATTITUDE ON THE ISSUE OF THE EU AND ADDS, ''I THINK SPAIN SHARES MY THOUGHTS'' - CEM SAYS TURKEY IS WORRIED THAT KOSOVO MAY EXPERIENCE A CIVIL WAR LIKE BOSNIA

[03] TURKEY-TRNC - BIG INTEREST IN THE TRNC FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY - TOUR PRICES INCREASE FOR HOLIDAY

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND THE PARLIAMENT SHOULD HELP TO SUCCEED IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION'' - ''PREVENTING THE DRAFT LAW ON TAXATION MEANS GIVING SUPPORT TO INFLATION''

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[07] TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THERE IS NOTHING TO DISCUSS WITH CLERIDES''

[08] TURKEY-PRIVATIZATION - PRIVATIZATION OF BERGAMA SUMERBANK - ''BAKIRCAY GUCBIRLIGI INC.'' WANTS TO PURCHASE BERGAMA SUMERBANK

[09] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COURT OF APPEALS REPEALS IMPRISONMENT OF BIRDAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

[10] TURKEY-TRNC - PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''WE WANT TO LIVE WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AS NEIGHBORS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS''

[11] TURKEY-HUMAN RIGHTS - EMERGENCY REGIONAL GOVERNOR ARSLAN: ''GERMANY IS UNEASY ABOUT THE REFUGEE PROBLEM''

[12] TURKEY-RUSSIA - FM: ''RUSSIA EXPRESSES HER SENSITIVITY TO TURKEY OVER THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT INVITED TO THE FIVE-WAY MEETING HELD FOR THE CASPIAN OIL''

[13] TURKEY-EU - THE EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY REPORT - HANS VAN DEN BROEK: ''BEING SUCCESSFUL DEPENDS ON THE EFFORTS OF THE EU AND TURKEY''

[14] TRNC - TRNC ESTABLISHES TELEPHONE EXCHANGE FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN PILE VILLAGE

[15] TURKEY-INTERNAL - HIGH COURT OF APPEALS GIVES APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC SECTOR LABOUR UNIONS

[16] TURKEY-GREECE - VIOLATION ALLEGATION FROM ATHENS - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKISH PLANES VIOLATED GREEK AIR SPACE ARE BASELESS''

[17] TURKEY-TAX - FINANCE MINISTRY TO TAKE MEASURES AGAINST TAX EVASION

[01] 04 MARCH 1998

[02] TURKEY-SPAIN - CEM MEETS WITH MATUTES - CEM SAYS THAT HE EXPLAINED TURKEY'S ATTITUDE ON THE ISSUE OF THE EU AND ADDS, ''I THINK SPAIN SHARES MY THOUGHTS'' - CEM SAYS TURKEY IS WORRIED THAT KOSOVO MAY EXPERIENCE A CIVIL WAR LIKE BOSNIA

Responding to the questions of journalists, Cem said that the meeting was focused on the relations between Turkey and the European Union. Cem told journalists that Spain is one of the countries which is very close to Turkey and Matutes supports Turkey. Cem added, ''Cyprus's one-sided membership in the EU will cause many problems. Turkey experienced unfair treatment during the EU negotiations. I think Spain shares my thoughts.''

Responding to a question on whether Turkey's attitude is continuing on her participation at the European Conference which will take place in London, Cem said, ''Turkey insists on her attitude, we will not participate at the European Conference.''

Cem said that the issue of Kosovo was not discussed during the meeting. Cem responded to the questions of the foreign and Turkish journalists on the issue, ''Turkey is worried about Kosovo. We do not want Kosovo to experience a civil war like the one in Bosnia. As the international community, we should prevent bloodshed in the region one more time.''

[03] TURKEY-TRNC - BIG INTEREST IN THE TRNC FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY - TOUR PRICES INCREASE FOR HOLIDAY

(TRNC) is expecting a large number of tourists for the Muslims' religious holiday which will last for 9 days, it was reported on Wednesday.

Officials from the travel agencies told the A.A correspondent that they have a large increase in bookings for the TRNC and added,

''We are faced with an unexpected interest in the TRNC. Our bookings are nearly filled. Tourists prefer hotels and holiday villages which have a gambling casino. The reason of this interest could be the season as well as the closure of the gambling casinos in Turkey.''

In the meantime, the Ankara-TRNC and Istanbul-TRNC flights have already filled up before the beginning of the religious holiday (April 3,4,5, 1998).

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND THE PARLIAMENT SHOULD HELP TO SUCCEED IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION'' - ''PREVENTING THE DRAFT LAW ON TAXATION MEANS GIVING SUPPORT TO INFLATION''

Addressing a statement before the Motherland Party (ANAP), Decision and Executive Council meeting, Prime Minister Yılmaz said that the government attributes great importance to the taxation law, ''preventing the draft law on taxation means giving support to inflation,'' he said.

Noting that the only problem that prevents Turkey from making an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the social security reform, Yılmaz added, ''Turkey has the will to decrease inflation by 50 percent by the end of this year without making an agreement with the IMF.''

Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz pointed out that the programmes which are implemented at the moment to decrease the inflation, are not enough, adding that measures in the field of taxation should enter into force and privatization has to be accelerated.

Stressing that the income gained from privatization during the first three months of this year is higher than the income gained earlier, Yılmaz said that inflation can be decreased by fulfilling three conditions: by controlling the budget, adopting the taxation law and accelerating privatization.

Yılmaz said that the trade of all kinds of fruit and vegetables will be registered by the Law on the Wholesale Food Markets and this will be an important measure for decreasing inflation.

Responding to a question, Prime Minister Yılmaz said that inflation in February was less than in January.

Prime Minister Yımaz added that the government does its best to solve the problems of the society and there are no elections on their agenda.

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN SPAIN
President Suleyman Demirel, accompanied by a 400-strong delegation of ministers, bureaucrats, businessmen and journalists, is paying an official visit to Spain on the invitation of King Juan Carlos of Spain. Demirel was given a warm reception in the Spanish capital of Madrid. Yesterday Demirel held contacts with King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar to discuss possibilities for improving bilateral cooperation. Regional developments of mutual importance were also discussed. This is the first visit of a Turkish president to Spain. /Milliyet/

SPAIN SEEKING TO SELL ARMS TO TURKEY
In the initial stages of President Suleyman Demirel's official visit to Spain yesterday, Spain reportedly attempted to sell 2 billion US dollars worth of arms to Turkey in an effort to strengthen economic ties and in exchange for Spanish support for Turkey's efforts to join the European Union (EU). The country's leading newspaper, El Pais, reported that Spain is trying to market four frigates, a dozen CN-235 cargo planes and other defense supplies in talks with the Turkish officials and defense experts who are accompanying the President. The newspaper pointed out that the deal would mean a ''record sales'' for the Spanish defense industry. The deal was discussed during a previous visit to Spain by Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of Defense. /Sabah/

''US PUSHING TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP''
The US is holding contacts in Brussels on Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, which has been declared as being of ''strategic importance'' by the US administration. Marc Grossman, the US Assistant Secretary of State and former Ambassador to Turkey and John Shattuck, the Assistant Secretary of State Responsible for Human Rights, met yesterday with Hans Van Den Broek, the Head of the EU Foreign Desk. At the meeting Grossman pointed out that it was not logical to exclude Turkey, especially when the future of the European continent was considered. Shattuck said that although there were human rights problems in Turkey, the government was struggling with determination against these problems. Just nine days before the European Conference, the US administration has put pressure on the EU by sending two diplomats at the level of assistant secretary of state. Grossman and Shattuck will continue their contacts in Brussels. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH PARLIAMENT PREPARES ''WESTERN THRACE'' REPORT
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) has decided to deal with the Western Thrace problem between Turkey and Greece. The TGNA Human Rights Commission has prepared a report about the problems of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace. The report said that Greece had prepared the foundation for dividing the minority by describing it as a mixed society formed of Turks, Pomaks (Bulgarian Muslims) and Gypsies. The report added, ''Greece applies strategies to weaken the Turkish minority by forcing them to either migrate or assimilate. She tries to disperse the Turkish minority by weakening its ties with Turkey. Economic development, social security and cooperation are blocked and people are forced to immigrate.'' /Cumhuriyet/

EU PANEL DISCUSSION
The prospect for an ultimate Cypriot membership in the EU is not realistic as long as a federation is not established on the island, and as long as participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the Greek Cypriot negotiating team is prevented, the participants in a panel discussion in Brussels concluded. Speaking on the panel, organized by the Greens' group in the EU Parliament, Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy Mumtaz Soysal said that the EU's Luxembourg decisions regarding Turkey and Cyprus were unfair and had a negative impact on efforts to reunite Cyprus. Speaking on a panel on the Cyprus problem, the co-chairman of the Greens' group, Magda Aelvoet from Belgium, said that by inviting Greek Cyprus to start accession talks and keeping Turkey out of the enlargement process, the EU has negatively affected the efforts for a solution on Cyprus and has adopted an unfair attitude towards Ankara. /Milliyet/

EU COMMISSION DEVELOPS RAPPROCHEMENT STRATEGY WITH TURKEY
The EU Commission has prepared a package of proposals for overcoming bottlenecks in Turkey-EU relations after the recent Luxembourg Summit when the EU members decided to exclude Turkey from the process of EU expansion. In a news report the commission stresses that the ultimate goal of the rapprochement strategy is to pave the way for Turkey's integration with Europe. The report puts pressure for releasing the EU aid promised to Turkey and for taking steps for developing further the Customs Union established between Turkey and the EU in 1996. In contrast to the previous EU initiatives, the report offers a specific timetable for materializing the proposals. /Milliyet/

NEW TIME VOTE
The survey on ''People who made their mark on the 20th century'' organized by Time magazine has ended. The results of the survey will not be announced until the end of 1999. Following the end of the five category survey, a new vote has begun. In the new vote, there will be only one category which consists of the most important 20 people of the 20th century. These people can be political leaders as well as scientists, artists and other leading figures. The same Internet address: http://www.time.com. will be used for the final vote. Those who wish to vote for Ataturk, for example, should write his name in small letters: mustafa kemal ataturk. /Sabah/

(To be continued)

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

MOSCOW UNEASY ABOUT OIL MEETING
Moscow yesterday declared its displeasure at not having been invited to an Istanbul meeting where issues involving the Caspian oil pipeline projects were discussed. In response to a question in Tuesday's press briefing, Gennadi Tarasov, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that all the related parties including Russia should have been invited to the meeting where sensitive issues regarding the Caspian region were discussed. Expressing dissatisfaction and surprise, Tarasov told reporters that the Russian reaction had been conveyed to Ankara through suitable channels. /Cumhuriyet/

ANKARA CALLS FOR DIALOGUE
Concerned over the recent wave of violence in Serbia's Kosovo region and the possibility that the turmoil could spread to the rest of the volatile Balkans, Ankara yesterday urged the parties to act with prudence and start a dialogue for a peaceful solution. Referring to the recent killing of some 20 people in Kosovo, a region populated mainly by ethnic Muslim Albanians, a Foreign Ministry statement said, ''Turkey regrets that the clashes on February 28 resulted in a loss of lives''. It also urged that the parties to the conflict immediately start a ''constructive dialogue and find a peaceful and wise solution within the framework of Yugoslavia's territorial integrity''. The statement also said that the basic rights and freedoms as well as the ethnic, religious and cultural identities of all the peoples living in Kosovo should be guaranteed without discrimination and with respect for the internationally accepted principles of human rights. /Milliyet/

47 KG OF HEROIN SEIZED IN VAN
Security forces have seized 47 kg of heroin in the Guzelsu district of Van. Two heroin smugglers were arrested by the Gendarmerie forces at the end of the operation yesterday. A total of 47 kg of heroin with a market value of 1.3 trillion TL and two guns were seized when the drug dealers were arrested. /Cumhuriyet/

A MESSAGE OF CRITICISM FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY
Syrian Deputy Head of State, Abdul Halim Haddam claims that Turkish officials should consider the threatening results of cooperation with Israel. In a statement in the weekly Syrian government ''Teshrin'' journal, he claimed that good relations between Turkey and Israel would only serve for the benefit of Israel. He added, ''Turkey's advantages are dependent on Islam and the Arab countries. We hope that Turkey will see the threats directed against herself very soon.'' /Cumhuriyet/

DECREASE IN INFLATION
Government decisions to freeze prices have begun to yield results. In February, inflation rates decreased by nearly three percent in comparison with the previous month. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz welcomed the reports and evaluated this development as an omen for greater achievements in the efforts to pull down inflation. The prime minister yesterday told journalists that the government's anti-inflation programme was not expected to begin to bear positive results before May, and added that inflation figures revealed yesterday by the State Institute of Statistics showed that even greater decreases were ahead. /Milliyet/

CILLER TOURS PARTY LEADERS
Tansu Ciller, the Leader of the True Path Party (DYP) has begun this week a tour of political party leaders in a move to raise support for a package of democratization measures. Yesterday Ciller met with the DTP leader Husamettin Cindoruk, YDP leader Hasan Celal Guzel and DEPAR leader Gokhan Capoglu. Ciller says that the country should head for early elections which should be held before the autumn. /Milliyet/

RIGHTS OF TURKS ABROAD RE-REGULATED
Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior in a written statament yesterday said that individuals born in Turkey but who had acquired citizenship in a foreign country, encounter frequent problems with legal regulations and their rights in Turkey. Basesgioglu stressed that according to the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 403, those who lost their Turkish citizenship because of becoming citizens of other countries without receiving the state's permission or because they were living abroad and did not return to Turkey in order to complete their military service, would be treated as foreigners. The Interior Minister added that these people would only be able to benefit from the rights granted to foreigners on issues such as the purchase and transfer of immobile assets, inheritance and labour. He stated that the amendment separates those who gave up Turkish citizenship by permission and their legal heirs from other foreign nationals. He added that preservation of the rights of former Turkish citizens would be available as long as the execution of those rights did not threaten the national security of the Republic of Turkey and the public order.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES QUIT WORK
The Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK) declared yesterday that because it was not possible for them to accept the draft law on ''public employees unions'' they would start their united protests today. Siyami Erdem, the Chief of the Confederation told a press conference that employees in the state postal, railway and medical services, except for the emergency services, would quit work today in protest against the draft law by marching into the center of Kizilay, Ankara. ''This draft brings no new rights whereas our existing rights are removed. We will maintain our protest action until it is withdrawn'' said Erdem. /Hurriyet/

[07] TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THERE IS NOTHING TO DISCUSS WITH CLERIDES''

Addressing a statement to the Agence France Press (AFP), Rauf Denktas said that he received a letter from Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General who said that the UN wants to start direct negotiations between the two leaders on the island and Diego Cordovez, the UN Special Representative to Cyprus will visit the island on March 18.

''I will talk with Cordovez, but I will tell him that there will not be anything to discuss unless the TRNC is recognized as an equal partner of the Greek Cypriots,'' said Denktas.

Denktas stated that he will tell the same thing to Thomas Miller, the US Special Envoy to Cyprus, who will arrive on Cyprus within few days.

Denktas reiterated that he will not receive Hans Van den Broek, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, who will come to the island on Thursday.

[08] TURKEY-PRIVATIZATION - PRIVATIZATION OF BERGAMA SUMERBANK - ''BAKIRCAY GUCBIRLIGI INC.'' WANTS TO PURCHASE BERGAMA SUMERBANK

The Bergama Gucbirligi was set up by 101 businessmen from Bergama, Dikili and Kinik Counties of the western Izmir Province.

Abdurrahman Baltaci, the General Coordinator of the Bergama Gucbirligi Inc., that has a total of 500 employees, told the A.A correspondent that the total loss of the Bergama Sumerbank Textile Factory was 1.5 trillion Turkish Liras last year and it still has a debt of five trillion Turkish Liras.

Baltaci said that the Chairmanship of the Privatization Administration had put the factory up for bidding for two trillion Turkish Liras.

Baltaci said that they will officially bid for the factory by depositing the 50 billion Turkish Liras letter of guarantee to the Privatization Administration Board on March 10, the deadline date for submitting tenders.

[09] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COURT OF APPEALS REPEALS IMPRISONMENT OF BIRDAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

The Court of Appeals decided that Akın Birdal cannot be convicted of violating Article 312/2 of the Penal Code.

The court pointed out that Birdal, during one of his speeches on World Peace Day, evaluated the struggle against terrorism in a sentimental and exaggerated way, criticized the attitude of the state from time to time, however on the whole these statements do not violate the related article.''

If the State Security Court abides by the verdict of the Court of Appeals, Birdal will be released, but if this is not the case, then file will be brought to the Court of Appeals General Penal Council.

[10] TURKEY-TRNC - PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''WE WANT TO LIVE WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOTS AS NEIGHBORS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS''

Meeting with the Karsiyaka Municipality delegation which came to the TRNC to sign a ''sister city'' agreement with Girne, Denktas said that Turkey always supports the TRNC.

Pointing out that the main principle should be the ''community'' in the intercommunal negotiations, but the Greek Cypriot administration damages it, Denktas said, ''the intercommunal negotiations were blocked when the European Union started the full membership negotiation process with the Greek Cypriot side.''

Denktas wanted the Greek Cypriots to comply with the agreement signed in 1960 and added, ''we cannot make any good agreement without Turkey. They want to convince us with Cretan Games.''

Describing Makarios, the former leader of the Greek Cypriot side as a person who engaged in genocide, Denktas stated, ''Makarios started to the ethnical cleansing. We were blamed for not to accepting it.''

Kemal Baysak, the Mayor of Karsiyaka, said that Turkey supports the TRNC in every field.

[11] TURKEY-HUMAN RIGHTS - EMERGENCY REGIONAL GOVERNOR ARSLAN: ''GERMANY IS UNEASY ABOUT THE REFUGEE PROBLEM''

A delegation of nine members from the German Bavarian Assembly came to the southeastern province of Diyarbakır the same day.

The German delegation headed by Peter Welnhofer visited Aydin Arslan, the Regional Governor and received information about the migration and refugees.

Responding to the questions of journalists after the meeting, Arslan said that he told the German delegation that the latter can solve the refugee problem by engaging in a close cooperation with the Turkish government.

''We told them that Republic of Turkey is a legal state and nobody is punished if he/she does not violate the law. A negative image of Turkey had earlier been propagated by the terrorists abroad, but this period has ended. Foreigners do not believe in this propaganda and come to see the facts in southeastern Turkey,'' he said.

The delegation will also hold contacts in Mardin.

[12] TURKEY-RUSSIA - FM: ''RUSSIA EXPRESSES HER SENSITIVITY TO TURKEY OVER THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT INVITED TO THE FIVE-WAY MEETING HELD FOR THE CASPIAN OIL''

Addressing a weekly press briefing, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman stated that Russia expressed her sensitivity to Turkey by saying, ''if we had been invited to the meeting, we would have been pleased.'' Atacanlı stressed that the Foreign Ministry told Russia that ''only the producer and transit countries'' were invited to the meeting.

Noting that the isolation of Russia from the Caspian oil is out of the question, Atacanlı added that Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz had earlier told Victor Chernomyrdin, the Russian Prime Minister that Turkey would be pleased with the participation of Russia in the exchange of views about the Caspian oil.

[13] TURKEY-EU - THE EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY REPORT - HANS VAN DEN BROEK: ''BEING SUCCESSFUL DEPENDS ON THE EFFORTS OF THE EU AND TURKEY''

Van Den Broek recalled that the EU Commission confirmed a proposals report titled ''The EU Strategy for Turkey'' and that this package was arranged upon the EU Council's request during the Luxembourg Summit.

He said the main goal was to prepare Turkey for full membership by reconciliating Turkey with the EU adding, ''the EU strategy which we have proposed will deepen relations with Turkey and will be for the benefit of everybody. Today's report proves that the EU is in a process. Creating the conditions for reaching success depends on the two sides.''

The EU Commission report confirms that Turkey is within the context of the EU's expansion process, adding that a strategy preparing Ankara for the EU was proposed. Stressing that several proposals in the report required financial contributions, the commission said that a functioning financial protocol was a must.

The commission report foresees establishing the required strategy for the accord of Turkey to the EU's ''Joint Agriculture Policy'' and providing technical aid.

The commission, by considering the Monetary Union process, wants to initiate a macro-economic dialogue with Turkey.

The report also includes proposals such as cooperation to abolish the technical obstacles for entering the EU market, supporting transfers of technology and initiatives, aid for the development of the private sector and to facilitate the circulation of capital.

[14] TRNC - TRNC ESTABLISHES TELEPHONE EXCHANGE FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN PILE VILLAGE

The telephone exchange which was established in Beyarmudu in the vicinity of Pile by the TRNC Ministry of Public Works and Transportation was opened for service by Dervis Eroglu, the TRNC Prime Minister.

Addressing the opening Eroglu said that there had been no telephone link with Pile for years, adding that they have overcome this problem with the newly established system.

Eroglu said that their desire to establish the telephone exchange in Pile, that is in the Buffer Zone, was prevented by the UN officials in the region and the Greek Cypriot side, so that the telephone exchange was established in Beyarmudu County that is within the borders of the TRNC.

Mehmet Bayram, the TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transportation said the telephone exchange that was made by the Siemens Company cost 520,000 US dollars.

He said at the first stage 150 Turkish Cypriot subscribers living in Pile will make use of the telephone exchange and that this number could be increased if wanted.

Nearly 500 Turkish Cypriot citizens living in Pile had no telophone links with any place of the world including the TRNC.

[15] TURKEY-INTERNAL - HIGH COURT OF APPEALS GIVES APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC SECTOR LABOUR UNIONS

The decision of the High Court of Appeal said, ''The ILO's Agreement No. 87 related to the issue has been approved by the Parliament on December 11, 1992. In accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution, the right for establishing a union has been given to the public sector employees as a result of the obligations in the domestic law.''

The High Court of Appeal's Penalty Department No. 8 had also earlier made decisions which approved the existence of public sector labour unions.

[16] TURKEY-GREECE - VIOLATION ALLEGATION FROM ATHENS - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKISH PLANES VIOLATED GREEK AIR SPACE ARE BASELESS''

Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman told the A.A correspondent that Greece in the past made such allegations adding, ''such claims stem from Greece's illegal 10 miles air space allegations.''

Atacanli said that each time Turkey was investigating the allegations of violation, but it was revealed that they were not true. He said, ''Turkish war planes are making their ordinary training flights in international air space.''

The Greek News Agency (ANA) on Wednesday claimed that Turkish war planes exercising in the Aegean entered the Athens FIR line near Midilli (Mitylene), Lesvo and Sakiz (Chios) Islands on Tuesday without permission and violated Greek air space.

The ANA's news report said that the Turkish air squadron composed of F-16 and F-4 war planes were driven away by 24 Mirage 2000, F-16 and F-4 type war planes and also claimed that they have come face to face with Turkish war planes 10 times.

[17] TURKEY-TAX - FINANCE MINISTRY TO TAKE MEASURES AGAINST TAX EVASION

These arrangements together with the draft tax reform are being discussed in the Parliament, which anticipates the establishment of a concrete infrastructure for taxation, are aiming at doubling at least, the tax revenues collected at present.

The Ministry of Finance will start to implement its seven methods specified for fighting against tax evasion.

Within this framework, the Ministry of Finance is aiming at setting up an automation and controlling network for the collection of taxes throughout the country.

The measures-package for combatting tax evasion is as follows:

-the Computer Based Controlling Project prepared with Turkish-German cooperation. A total of six million taxpayers were registered in the computer programme. A detailed data base was prepared for those taxpayers,

-the Combat Tax Evaders Programme to be realized with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS): the methods of control of the IRS will be used in Turkey,

-the Tax Department Full Automation Project: the aim is to set up a completely automated system including all of the tax offices in Turkey.

-close control of expensive villas, small satellite towns, weddings at luxury hotels and singers,

-controlling by tax number: close controlling of businessmen's expenditures and deposits in banks,

-new tax returns will be prepared and new information on the taxpayers will be installed in the computer programme,

-Inspection staff: The Finance Ministry will establish a Financial Services Section which will be responsible for controlling taxes.

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