Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-11

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

11 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-KOSOVO - PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO DISCUSS THE KOSOVO PROBLEM IN A GENERAL DEBATE - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE SPARKS FROM FLYING''

[02] TURKEY-EU - LAKE, FORMER EU REPRESENTATIVE TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY HAS NOT BEEN ISOLATED BY THE EU''

[03] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 11, 1998

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[06] TURKEY-ICAO - ICAO EXPERT SUGOVIC: - ''WE WANT TO EASE TURKEY'S AIR TRAFFIC'' - ''TURKEY IS THE JUNCTION POINT FOR THE AIR TRAFFIC. WE WILL NOT LET TURKEY FACE THIS PROBLEM ALONE''

[07] TURKEY-INTERNAL - REMOVING PARLAMENTARY IMMUNITIES OF MENZIR, MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION AND GURDAL, TOURISM MINISTER, TO BE DISCUSSED LATER

[08] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - A TOTAL OF 104 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN VAN AND ISTANBUL

[09] TURKEY-TORTURE - MANISA PENAL COURT ACQUITS TEN POLICEMEN ACCUSED OF TORTURING TEENAGERS

[10] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - A TOTAL OF 70 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- MARCH 11, 1998

[12] TURKEY-NATO - TURKEY'S WAR PLANES GO TO PORTUGAL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATO'S MILITARY MANEUVERS

[01] TURKEY-KOSOVO - PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO DISCUSS THE KOSOVO PROBLEM IN A GENERAL DEBATE - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE SPARKS FROM FLYING''

Speaking on behalf of the government, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said that the government and the foreign ministry are preparing policies aimed at protecting the rights of the Kosovonian people within the framework of Turkey's interests.

Noting that President Suleyman Demirel was the first statesman who intervened in the incidents in Kosovo in an appropriate manner, Cem added that Turkey has brought the issue to the attention of NATO and the declaration of NATO was formed upon the proposal of Turkey.

Cem pointed out, ''we have fulfilled our responsibility and we will continue to do so.''

Noting that Turkey respects international agreements and territorial borders, Cem stated that the terrorism which has escalated in Kosovo should end and the education problem of the Albanian people should also be solved.

Ismail Cem stressed that the other rights of the Albanian people living in Kosovo have to be recognized within the framework of autonomy, adding that the Albanian people started to regard the problem as if it is a question of independence, while the Serbian administration considers it as ''an internal matter.''

Cem stressed that ''we will do our best to keep the sparks from flying.''

[02] TURKEY-EU - LAKE, FORMER EU REPRESENTATIVE TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY HAS NOT BEEN ISOLATED BY THE EU''

Addressing a meeting called ''The Future of Turkish-EU Relations'', Lake claimed that Turkey is included in the first stage of the enlargement process which is composed of three stages.

Noting that the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) develop rapidly in Turkey, Lake said that these organizations will positively affect the Turkish-EU relations.

''The Turkish people have misunderstood us. Turkey expected the EU to give her a speedy full membership and she felt dissappointed when it was not the case,'' said Lake.

Pointing out that if Turkey had applied to the EU in 1977 along with Greece, Spain and Portugal, Lake stressed that Turkey would have been a full member today.

Noting that Turkey should not curtail her institutional relations with the EU, Lake described the European Conference that will be held on March 12 in London as a platform which will open the EU membership to Turkey.

''The EU did not fulfill its promises towards Turkey regarding the Customs Union. This was due to Greece's veto. However, signing the customs deal with Turkey proves that Turkey is included in the EU enlargement process,'' Lake said.

Lake stressed that the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island is a reality and the claims of the Greek Cypriot side which says that it represents both peoples on the island are not true.

[03] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 11, 1998

The Presidential Press Center said that President Demirel expressed his deep sorrow and conveyed condolences to Turkey's Armenian Community in his message.

ANKARA - Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, received on Tuesday Captain Otar Chkartishvili, the Chief Commander of the Georgian Naval Forces, who is paying an official visit to Turkey as the guest of Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, the Chief Commander of the Naval Forces.

Pointing out that Turkey had signed a military cooperation agreement with Georgia, Minister Sezgin said before the meeting that Turkey would continue to give every support for the development, training and procurement of ordnance of the Georgian Naval Forces.

ANKARA - Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State, received on Tuesday the members of the Albanian Parliament Media Commission.

Kavak said in the meeting that Turkey wants the violence and pressure in Albania to be removed, stressing that Turkey has initiated the necessary measures.

ANKARA - Sureyya Yucel Ozden, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transportation, said on Wednesday that they would finance the Batumi Airport after reaching an agreement with the Georgian government in a short time.

Sureyya Yucel Ozden told the A.A correspondent that Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transportation, and technical staff from the Ministry of Transportation made observations at the Batumi Airport.

Pointing out that the airport had several insufficiencies in its technical infrastructure, Undersecretary Ozden said, ''our technical staff continue their feasibility studies. We will reconstruct the terminal and the runway.''

ANKARA - Turkey and Tunisia on Tuesday signed a cooperation protocol after the Turkish-Tunisian Eighth Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meetings chaired by Husamettin Ozkan, the Minister of State, and Saed Bin Mustafa, the Tunisian Foreign Minister.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Ozkan said that they had reached a consensus to improve cooperation in the fields of durable goods, automotive sub-industry, construction equipment, drug industry, food industry, thread, leather industry and irrigation pipes during the JEC meetings.

Pointing out that they decided to increase the number of technical level meetings in transport, trade and industry to specify the fields of cooperation, Ozkan said that there was considerable potential and opportunities in the relations between the two countries.

Saed Bin Mustafa said that they should immediately begin their activities to bring the relations between the two countries to the required level.

Mustafa said that the two countries should diversify the commercial branches to improve the economic relations and businessmen from the two countries should hold meetings often and participate in the mutual fairs.

After completing his contacts, Saed Bin Mustafa left Turkey the same day.

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

NEW BOMB ATTACK ON POLICE STATION
A bomb exploded in the garden of an empty house next to the Kucukyali Police Station in Maltepe Tuesday morning about 7:45 a.m. No one was injured although some of the police station's windows were broken. As yet no one has been identified with the bomb attack. After the bombers escaped from the scene, two suspicious packages were discovered near the police station. The bomb squad experts were called in to investigate; one package was blown up and the other did not contain explosives. /Cumhuriyet/

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND ECEVIT DISCUSS TURKISH ECONOMY
Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Bulent Ecevit came together with the representatives of the Ankara Chambers of Commerce (ATO) yesterday noon at the headquarters of the Prime Ministry. Ecevit said that he believed that the Turkish people would overcome the social and economic burdens.

ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun and ATO Board Chairman Yuksel Tavsan said that they appreciated Ecevit for his balancing role in Turkey's current political spectrum, as events around Turkey such as in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Iraq prove the country's importance. In addition to its political role, they said that the city of Ankara is significant in maintaining an economic balance in Central Anatolia and demanded an increase of investments in Ankara, which would affect the economy of all of Central Anatolia. They also asked for an increase in the authority of local administrations, an issue which is on the Parliamentary agenda./Hürriyet/

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH KAREKIN II DIES
Armenian Church Patriarch Karekin II passed away yesterday afternoon after a lengthy illness, the Patriarchate said. The 71-year-old patriarch was being treated at the Yedikule Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital. The Patriarchate said that funeral services for Patriarch Karekin will take place at the Patriarchate Church of the Virgin Mary on Sunday at 10 a.m. and that he will be buried in the patriarch's section of the Sisli Armenian Cemetery. The Patriarchate announced a period of mourning until April 11. It said elections to replace the patriarch would begin on April 14, following Easter. /All papers/

SEZGIN VISITS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin will go to Brussels on March 12 in order to join a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters meeting on March 13 and watch the "Strong Resolve-98" maneuvers to be held in Norway and Portugal with the participation of 15 NATO countries and 10 countries from the Partnership for Peace (PFP).

CYPRUS DEADLOCK
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas told a US envoy yesterday that the TRNC must receive official recognition before talks to reunify the island can restart. "You cannot get anywhere when you treat only one side as the legal government of the whole of Cyprus" Denktas told reporters after a two-hour meeting with Thomas Miller, the US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus. Miller is also scheduled to hold talks in Athens and Ankara.

After meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens, the Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides said that they wanted the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the Greek Cypriot delegation that one-sidely will hold accession talks under the name of the "Cypriot government". Clerides will leave Athens for London to attend Thursday's European Conference, forming a discussion platform for the EU's enlargement process. Turkey, although invited, has refused to attend. /All papers/

ROTH: "YILMAZ WAS PARTIALLY RIGHT ABOUT GERMANY"

The European Parliament Greens leader Claudia Roth said that the Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz was partially right in his remarks comparing Bonn's approach to EU expansion with Adolf Hitler's "Lebensraum" plans for the German settlement of Eastern Europe. The German deputy said that Yilmaz had entertained high expectations from the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, with whom he shared similar ideals, but was deeply disappointed when these expectations were not fulfilled by Kohl. /Milliyet/

TUSIAD DELEGATION TO VISIT BRUSSELS
Members of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD) will go to Brussels today. Commission members will meet with officials of the European Investment Bank and Mr.Linden, Head of the North Mediterranean Department of the European Union (EU) Commission and will discuss matters of financial cooperation with the EU and the Customs Union. /Sabah/

(To be continued)

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

ALATON WANTS TO MEET MANDELA
Ishak Alaton, recently appointed as South Africa's honorary consulate to Istanbul, is planning to meet next month with Nelson Mandela, the President of South Africa.

Speaking about his upcoming visit to that country, Alaton said that he was chosen from 40 candidates as the honorary consulate by the South African Foreign Ministry. He also noted that he has refused two other countries, which were hoping to appoint him as their honorary consulate, because they demand visas from Turkish citizens. Alaton is waiting for President Demirel's approval prior to taking up his honorary post. /Milliyet/

TURCO-GERMAN VISIT CRISIS
Following Labour Minister Nami Cagan's decision to postpone his visit to Bonn, Germany has made a statement saying that Minister Cagan was scheduled to have a lunch with German Labour Minister Norbers Bluem and then both officials were to have participated in bilateral talks. German officials said that the programme was drafted in line with the demands of both ministers and added that the Turkish reactions to the programme were "difficult to understand". Minister Bluem stressed that he will be pleased to welcome his Turkish counterpart in Bonn next week and to discuss with him steps for improving bilateral cooperation. /Sabah/

IRAQI REFUGEES CAUGHT
A total of 94 Iraqi refugees who entered Turkey illegally and were to be smuggled to Italy were apprehended by the security forces yesterday. Another 10 Iraqi asylum-seekers have been caught in the eastern province of Van. The refugees will be sent back to Iraq. /Sabah/

THE EU WAITS LIKE "AN ABANDONED BRIDE"

The Independent, a leading British daily newspaper, said that Turkey's decision not to attend the European Conference beginning tomorrow in London has destroyed the meaning of the meeting that will bring together 26 European leaders. The paper compared the British Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair as waiting in vain for Turkish representatives to participate in a meeting of "abandoned brides waiting for their grooms." /Cumhuriyet/

COOPERATION AGAINST CUSTOMS CRIMES
The customs administrations of Turkey and Turkmenistan will cooperate for the prevention of customs crimes. An agreement regarding mutual assistance between the customs administrations of Turkey and Turkmenistan was published in the Official Gazette yesterday. The two countries will help each other to prevent customs crimes. /Hurriyet/

AMERICAN INTEREST IN TURKISH TELECOM
It is reported that American companies are interested in Turkish Telecommunications A.S., which is likely to be privatized sometime this year. According to information received from the Turkish Telecommunications' representatives, who came together with the US Telecommunications' representatives at the end of February and the beginning of March, many American companies are interested in the developments of the Turkish Telecom. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH TEXTILES IN MOSCOW
A total of 35 Turkish member companies of the Istanbul Textile Ready-to- Wear Exporters' Union (ITKIB) will participate in a Russian Fashion Fair to be held in Moscow between 16-19 March. /Hurriyet/

[06] TURKEY-ICAO - ICAO EXPERT SUGOVIC: - ''WE WANT TO EASE TURKEY'S AIR TRAFFIC'' - ''TURKEY IS THE JUNCTION POINT FOR THE AIR TRAFFIC. WE WILL NOT LET TURKEY FACE THIS PROBLEM ALONE''

Milan Sugovic, who is the Secretary General of the meeting titled ''The Europe-Eastern Region and Central Asia Air Traffic Flow'' organized by the ICAO in Belek county of Antalya, told the A.A correspondent that the planes earlier were flying in transit in the east-west and west-east routes.

Pointing out that the air traffic in the regional countries increased after the dispersion of the Soviet Union, Sugovic said that the air traffic in Turkey also increased in parallel to this.

Noting that the majority of the planes were flying from Europe to Eastern countries via Turkey, Sugovic said, ''some of the planes flying in transit from Europe to Eastern countries are not given permission to land by some countries for their lack of equipment capacity and manpower capacity at the airports. For instance, we send 100 planes from Europe to the East via Turkey. However, Iran allows 25 of them to land. This is the problem. What can Turkey do for the remaining 75 planes? We are trying to solve this problem.''

Stressing that Turkey successfully arranged the air traffic within the existing conditions, Sugovic said that the Eastern countries should increse their equipment and manpower capacity.

Defining Turkey as a ''junction point'' for the air traffic between European and eastern countries, Sugovic said, ''we do not want to let Turkey face this problem alone. We are trying to find solutions for the problem in this meeting.''

[07] TURKEY-INTERNAL - REMOVING PARLAMENTARY IMMUNITIES OF MENZIR, MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION AND GURDAL, TOURISM MINISTER, TO BE DISCUSSED LATER

The Constitutional and Justice Joint Commission's report concerning the parliamentary immunities of Menzir, Gurdal and nine other deputies was read at the General Council of the Parliament the same day.

The names of the other nine deputies whose parliamentary immunities will be discussed at the end of the term are as follows:

''Zulfikar Gazi (Virtue Party), Murat Karayalcın (Republican Peoples' Party), Seyit Eyyuboglu (Motherland Party), Ekrem Pakdemirli (Motherland Party), Ergun Ozdemir (True Path Party), Omer Vehbi Hatipoglu (Virtue Party), Kemal Albayrak (Virtue Party), Mehmet Fuat Fırat (Independent) and Sabri Ergul (Republican Peoples' Party).''

The Parliamentary General Council also decided to hold a preliminary discussion on March 17 concerning the censure motion that was filed against Hikmet Ulubay, the Minister of National Education.

[08] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - A TOTAL OF 104 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN VAN AND ISTANBUL

Officials from the Police Department told the A.A correspondent that the immigrants who entered Turkey with false passports were detained and after questioning they will be deported.

[09] TURKEY-TORTURE - MANISA PENAL COURT ACQUITS TEN POLICEMEN ACCUSED OF TORTURING TEENAGERS

The court ruled unanimously that there was no evidence to support the claims of torture or maltreatment.

Sabri Ergul, the lawyer representing the teenagers and a deputy from the Republican Peoples' Party (CHP), said that ''we protect our trust in justice even after this decision. We believe that the High Court of Appeals will repeal this verdict.''

[10] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - A TOTAL OF 70 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

Officials told the A.A correspondent that 40 of the immigrants were captured near Subasi village of Meric County and the other 30 immigrants were captured in Kiremitcisalih Village of Uzunkopru County.

In the meantime Sabah Yılmaz, the driver who brought the Iraqis to Uzunkopru County by bus, was also detained.

Officials said that the immigrants will be deported after questioning.

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- MARCH 11, 1998

The Foreign Ministry said that the Mongolian President Bagabandi's visit will last for two days and he will arrive in Turkey on March 16 as the official guest of President Suleyman Demirel.

The statement added that views will be exchanged regarding the existing friendly relations between the two countries, regional and international issues.

ANKARA - Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a press briefing that the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mate Granic will arrive in Turkey on Thursday for a two-day official visit.

Granic and the accompanying delegation will start their contacts on March 13 and bilateral relations and regional issues such as Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia will be discussed.

Necati Utkan emphasized that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and his Croatian counterpart Granic will sign a protocol concerning the consultations held between the two delegations.

IZMIR - Turkey's first ''Day Hospital'' started to give health services on Wednesday within the structure of the Dokuz Eylul University Medicine Faculty Hospital.

Prof. Dr. Emin Alici, the Dean of the Medical Faculty, said that local anesthesia and routine operations were made at the Day Hospital.

ANKARA - The 27th meeting of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Coordination Committee will convene on March 13 in Batman Province.

The meeting will be chaired by Salih Yildirim, the Minister of State.

Olcay Unver, the Chairman of the GAP Administration, will give information about the activities of the GAP Regional Development Administration.

ZONGULDAK - An on-the-job accident occurred at the the Turkish Coal Administration's coal mine in the Uzulmez region of Zonguldak Province, it was reported on Wednesday.

It was reported that a trailer vehicle and an electric locomotive collided at the minus 170 code of the Asma Coal Mine.

Huseyin Omer, the driver of the trailer vehicle, died in the accident.

TRABZON - The foreign exchange income from the exports of hazelnuts since September 1, 1997 has reached 689.5 million US dollars, it was reported on Wednesday.

The amount is expected to increase to over one billion US dollars by the end of August 1998.

ISTANBUL - The Turkish Maritime Authority (TDI) will privatize its fleet, it was reported on Wednesday.

The TDI's Iskenderun, Samsun, Ankara, Truva, Bandirma, Yesilada, Bozcaada and Tekirdag ferry boats and Karadeniz, Mavi Marmara, Avsa and Ayvalik passenger ships will be sold by the block-sale method.

DIYARBAKIR/ORDU - The security forces killed four separatist terrorists in the operation launched in southeastern Turkey.

The Emergency Rule Governor's Office said that security forces killed three terrorists in the rural part of Yedisu County of Bingol Province and one terrorist in the rural part of Genc County of the same province. The operations are underway in the region.

Meanwhile, security forces killed two terrorists escaping after killing a citizen in Ordu Province.

BRUSSELS - The Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) Foreign Affairs Commission members arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to hold several contacts within the structure of the European Union (EU).

The Commission members will meet with the officials from the European Investment Bank and Eric van der Linden, the European Commission Turkish Desk Chairman, and will take up the issues of financial cooperation and the Customs Union.

The TUSIAD delegation led by Aldo Kaslowski, the Deputy Chairman of the TUSIAD will continue their contacts on Thursday.

GOLCUK - Captain Otar Chartishvili, the Chief Commander of the Georgian Naval Forces, who is paying an official visit to Turkay as the guest of Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, the Chief Commander of Naval Forces, visited the Fleet Commandership in Golcuk on Wednesday.

Captain Otar Chartishvili will leave Golcuk on Thursday.

ZENICA - Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture, who went to Sarajevo to attend the Winter Festival, visited the Bosnia-Herzegovina Turkish Mission Force in Zenica on Wednesday.

Talay warned the Turkish Mission Force personnel to be especially aware of land mines.

[12] TURKEY-NATO - TURKEY'S WAR PLANES GO TO PORTUGAL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATO'S MILITARY MANEUVERS

Four TF-16 war planes which belong to the 182nd Fleet in Diyarbakir Province took off from the Balikesir Airport this morning and landed at the Monte Real Air Base in Portugal.

Greece which is also participating in the military maneuvers did not permit Turkey's war planes to pass over her air space.

Nearly 50 thousand staff from 25 countries are participating in the NATO's military maneuvers. Turkey will participate in ''the operation for supporting the peace'' part of the military maneuvers with four F-16 war planes and a frigate from the Mediterranean Permanent Navy.

Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence, will go to Brussels to watch the military maneuvers tomorrow. After the meeting Sezgin will go to Norway with the other defence ministers. Sezgin will return to Turkey on March 16.

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