Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-12

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

12 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-KOSOVO - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE KOSOVO PROBLEM SHOULD ATTAIN A POLITICAL SOLUTION'' - ''TURKEY WILL DO HER UTMOST TO PREVENT BLOODSHED IN KOSOVO''

[02] TURKEY-TRNC - PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BECOMES A SUBJECT FOR NOT ENTERING THE EU

[03] TURKEY-CORRUPTION - ''UNFAIR WEALTH'' SUIT AGAINST OZER CILLER

[04] TOURISM - TOURISM MINISTRY TO ORGANIZE TWO TOURS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM

[05] TURKEY-EGS - EGS FLOATS 49 PERCENT OF ITS REAL ESTATE TRUST - EGS EXPECTS 65 MILLION US DOLLARS IN INCOME

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[09] TURKEY-ISRAEL - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''WE HARSHLY CONDEMN THE INCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THREE AND WOUNDING OF THREE INNOCENT CIVILIAN PEOPLE IN HEBRON''

[10] TURKEY-FRANCE-EU - FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY AGAIN

[11] TURKEY-INTERNAL - VEYSEL OZERDEM, WHO ATTACKED PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN HUNGARY IN 1996, ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL

[12] TURKEY-GEORGIA - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ'S VISIT TO GEORGIA

[01] TURKEY-KOSOVO - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE KOSOVO PROBLEM SHOULD ATTAIN A POLITICAL SOLUTION'' - ''TURKEY WILL DO HER UTMOST TO PREVENT BLOODSHED IN KOSOVO''

Addressing a television programme named ''Alternatif'',

Demirel said, ''Europe has taken action quickly on the Kosovo problem. A contact group has been formed and Felipe Gonzales has been appointed as a mediator. Yugoslavia should not repeat the same things in Kosovo that happened in Bosnia. I hope Kosovo will not be a second Bosnia.''

Reminding that Turkey signed an agreement with the European Union in 1963 and this agreement is still valid, Demirel said that the aim of this agreement is Turkey's full membership in the EU.

Demirel criticised the decisions taken at the Luxembourg Summit and added that the EU discriminated among the canditate countries and Germany played a key role in the discrimination.

Demirel added that the relations between Turkey and the EU should not damage the bilateral relations between Turkey and the member countries of the EU and his visit to France and to Spain aimed at improving relations.

Noting that there are two states on Cyprus, Demirel said that political relations will be within the framework of two states from now on. Demirel said that the results of the election in Armenia may cause problems in the Caucasus. Demirel added, ''the new president of Armenia should behave wisely and calmly.''

[02] TURKEY-TRNC - PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BECOMES A SUBJECT FOR NOT ENTERING THE EU

Addressing the journalists, Denktas said, ''I want to show that the European Union is a trap which will solve the Cyprus problem in favour of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.''

Pointing out that the French Government thinks that ''it will be a big mistake if a controversial Cyprus without the Turkish Cypriots participates in the European Union negotiations'', Denktas said that Greece reacted angrily to this statement and put the press organs against it.

Stressing that the European Union accepts the principles of free circulation, settlement and possession, Denktas reminded that they limited these issues in the conditions for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Denktas also said that Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General, Yorgo Vasiliu, one of the former leaders of the Greek Cypriot side and the head of the delegation which will participate in the negotiations with the EU, accepted these conditions.

Denktas said that the EU understands more each day that Cyprus is not a united Greek Cypriot state and the application made by the Greek Cypriot side is not an application by all of Cyprus.

[03] TURKEY-CORRUPTION - ''UNFAIR WEALTH'' SUIT AGAINST OZER CILLER

The Ankara Republic Chief Prosecutor's Office concluded on Wednesday the investigation against Ozer Ciller, the husband of the former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller on charges of illegally accumulating wealth.

The indictment came as a member of the ruling Motherland Party was preparing to push for a new commission to investigate allegations that Mrs. Ciller failed to declare certain assets and properties to authorities.

Ozer Ciller has denied any wrongdoing. A hearing in the case has been set for March 27.

Last year Mrs. Ciller survived several similar parliamentary corruption probes.

Mr. Ciller is already being prosecuted on charges that he altered official papers documenting the family's fortune and could be sentenced to eight 1/2 years in prison if found guilty.

[04] TOURISM - TOURISM MINISTRY TO ORGANIZE TWO TOURS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM

Addressing to a meeting arranged by the Izmir Governor's Office, Siyahhan said that the Aegean Region has a concentrated ancient city culture and there are 12 thousand facilities in the region. Pointing out that the Tourism Ministry issues 6 main magazines and the number of the copies printed has reached up to 2 million, Siyahhan said that the Tourism Ministry has prepared video tapes about the ancient cities of Ephesus and Miletus and the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Noting that their aim is to extend tourism throughout the year, Siyahhan said, ''thermal, religious belief, and congress tourisms are concentrated in Izmir Province. Last year 22 international congresses were held in Izmir and this number will increase to 26 this year. Two tours will be held in Turkey this year for foreigners. One of them will be held in the Western part of Turkey and the other in the Southeastern Anatolia Region.''

Siyahhan said that they aim is to create more demand for religious beliefs tourism and added, ''It is expected that nearly 50-60 million tourists will come to the Mediterranean Region in 2000. If we can draw 10 percent of them to Turkey, then the number of tourists will be increased by 5 or 6 million.''

[05] TURKEY-EGS - EGS FLOATS 49 PERCENT OF ITS REAL ESTATE TRUST - EGS EXPECTS 65 MILLION US DOLLARS IN INCOME

EGS said in a written statement that the flotation via domestic and international offers amounts to 2.82 trillion Turkish Liras (12 million USD) of shares whose unit price is to be 6,750 Turkish Liras, and will be listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB).

EGS Trust plans to raise its capital to 5.75 trillion Turkish Liras from 3.5 trillion Turkish Liras by selling 2.25 trillion Turkish Liras in rights issues. EGS will also sell 567.5 billion Turkish Liras in outstanding shares.

The statement said that 87.5 percent of the total offer was allocated to foreign investors, 2.5 percent to domestic institutional investors and one percent to EGS group workers. The remaining shares were allocated to private investors.

An official from the Caspian Securities Turkey, which managed the international offer, said that Caspian Securities has completed the sale of 71.5 million US dollars in shares allocated to investors abroad.

The domestic offer will take place between March 12 and 13 at a price of 6, 750 Turkish Liras per 1,000 nominal-valued shares.

Levent Hekimoglu, the General Director of EGS said that EGS has a total of four real estate development projects in its portfolio. These are the Istanbul Yesilkoy Commercial Site, the Trade and Business Centre in Denizli, and the Mavisehir and Basmane projects in Izmir.

Stating that the total cost price of those four projects is 226 million US dollars, Hekimoglu said that the total financial debt of EGS is 11 million US dollars.

Pointing out that they expect 65 million US dollars in income from the share offer, Hekimoglu said that EGS will use the proceeds to finance ongoing and new projects.

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PM YILMAZ RENEWS CRITICISM AGAINST GERMANY
In a statement to the DPA, the Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz held Germany responsible for the exclusion of Turkey from the EU expansion process. Yilmaz also told the DPA representative that in using the controversial German word "lebensraum" in an earlier statement to the noted Financial Times daily newspaper he was not trying to draw parallels between the present German government and Hitler's Germany.

Having voiced strong reactions to the statement of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Germany is now toning down its criticism of Turkey. The German government spokesman Peter Hausmann said that "emotional statements cannot damage Turco-German friendship". /Milliyet/

DIALOGUE WITH GREECE
Dimitrios Nezeritis, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey was summoned yesterday to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The Turkish Foreign Ministry officials conveyed to the Greek Ambassador the Turkish desire to find a peaceful solution to the disagreements in the Aegean. In a note presented to Neziritis, Ankara stressed the importance of arranging bilateral meetings between the representatives of Turkey and Greece. In this connection, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister has sent a letter to his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos, inviting him to Ankara to lay the ground for future compromise. /Milliyet/

FOURTH TURKISH SATELLITE ON THE AGENDA
Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transport and Communications said that during his contacts with the American telecommunications companies during his visit to Washington, D.C. earlier this month, possibilities for cooperation in satellite communications were discussed. Menzir said that the construction of another Turkish satellite was being considered. The Transportation Ministry has at the same time launched a 3.8 billion TL project for improving the Turkish Internet network. Bid proposals from companies interested in the project should be submitted by March 19. /Milliyet/

TURKISH DEPUTIES IN THE US
Turkish parliamentarians are paying a visit to the US at the invitation of the Institute of Representative Government (IRG). The Turkish delegation includes deputies from the newly established FP, as well as from the ANAP, DTP, DSP and DYP parties. In their contacts in the US the deputies will focus on the operation of the US democratic institutions. Their programme includes meetings with officials from the US State Department, as well as with representatives of the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), the Brookings Institute and the Congress Research Service (CRS). /Milliyet/

A TOTAL OF 70 MORE IRAQI REFUGEES APPREHENDED
Seventy Iraqi refugees planning to illegally cross the border into Greece were caught yesterday in Edirne. The refugees will be sent back to Iraq. /Sabah/

FRANCE PRESSES FOR SOLUTION TO CYPRUS ISSUE
According to France, the EU membership discussions with Cyprus scheduled to begin on March 31 should be shelved until the two communities living on the island manage to set up a joint contact group. French officials say that nobody should foster expectations about accepting Cyprus into the Union before disagreements on the island are resolved. France says that in this way the Cyprus issue will be carried to the EU platform. Greece reacted harshly to the French proposal and threatened to veto negotiations with the other five EU candidate countries if the proposal is given support. The issue will be discussed during a meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the aftermath of the London European Conference commencing today. /Sabah/

LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
The Turkish security forces have launched large-scale operations in the southeast to cope with the PKK terrorists infiltrating into Turkey from Northern Iraq. Reportedly, the PKK terrorist organization is planning to stage various attacks all over the country on the occasion of the traditional Spring celebration of Nevruz. A total of 25 thousand soldiers and 10 thousand village guards are participating in the drive to sweep out the terrorists from the region. The operations are being backed with air support. During the last three days, 36 PKK terrorists have been killed. /Sabah/

(To be continued)

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

YILMAZ GOES TO GEORGIA
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is going to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi tomorrow, where he will be received by President Eduard Shevardnadze. Economic relations between the two countries will be the focal issue of the meetings which will for last two days. However, political issues, such as the recent second assassination attempt against Shevardnadze because of his efforts to remove the Russian military bases from Georgia, will also be included. Yilmaz will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and statesmen. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL IN VIENNA
A selection of the latest Turkish films will be shown this week at the "Cinema Turkish-98" film festival, organized by "Station Vienna" an association active in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Five short and seven long Turkish films will figure in the festival, which begins this coming friday night. /Cumhuriyet/

NO RESULTS WITHOUT TURKEY AT THE EU MEETING
The much vaunted European Union (EU) meeting in London starts today. The EU European Conference designed to set out the perspectives for an enlarged Europe follows the December EU summit which then decided to exclude Turkey from the expansion process. This decision however, has not altered the fact that for most participants at the Lancaster House meeting, Turkey's absence will be deeply felt.

Both the foreign and British press have stressed that Turkey's refusal to attend the EU Conference will lead to a lacklustre meeting without concrete results. The British press has in fact, described the meeting as "empty" with the leading daily newspaper The Guardian noting that the meeting was starting off on a very bad footing.

France and other member countries have sent out last minute calls for Turkey's participation at the London Conference, but despite these efforts the meeting is starting without what is seen by most delegate countries as one of the most important guests. /All papers/

ABDULLAH OCALAN IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS
It is reported that leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, went to Southern Cyprus from Syria via Lebanon two weeks ago and met with the head of the Southern Cyprus Kurdistan Solidarity Organization, Lazaros Mavros. Some parliamentarians from the PASOK party, which is in power in Greece, and from other parties, also attended the meeting. Officials from the US intelligence agencies, who prefer not to reveal their names, have noted that officials from the Greek intelligence units also participated in the meeting between Abdullah Ocalan and the Southern Cyprus- Kurdistan organization. /Sabah/

GREEK LOBBY IN NEW DRIVE AGAINST TURKEY
It is reported that during a meeting between leading officials from the Greek lobby in Washington, D.C. and the American Greek Cypriot Orthodox Patriarch, it was claimed that anti-Turkey propaganda had become ineffectual. It was proposed that new measures should be taken to increase initiatives against Turkey. /Sabah/

ANKARA WELCOMES BALKAN INITIATIVE ON KOSOVO
Turkey declared yesterday that she expects the Kosovo crisis to be solved directly through the efforts of the people in the region without any external interference. Briefing reporters on Wednesday during the usual weekly press conference, Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman evaluated the recent developments in Kosovo. Utkan pointed out that Turkey had openly stated her position on the Kosovo issue and said that Turkey would always be ready to take the necessary steps to contribute to peace in the region. "The Sofia declaration shows that the shared view of the Balkan states is improving" Utkan said. Utkan said that the latest step towards a solution of the Kosovo crisis was the joint declaration signed by five countries in Sofia.

In a related development, President Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that a broader cooperation is urgent for the Balkan region. Pointing out that the current developments in Kosovo were causing great concern, Demirel expressed his hope for a solution to the problem without further escalation of tensions. /All papers/

(To be continued)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES 1998 PRIVATIZATION PLANS
Following a Wednesday meeting of the Higher Privatization Board, State Minister Isin Celeci, announced the names of the state-run industries up for privatization. Along with Celebi, the board meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Minister of Communications, Necdet Menzir, Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer and Gunes Taner, State Minister Responsible for the Economy.

Celebi said the board had decided to privatize partial shares in the Is Bank and Petrol Ofisi. Speaking at a press conference at the prime minister's residence in Ankara, where the meeting took place, Celebi said that the government coalition members were in agreement with the 1998 privatization plans. The Privatization Administration Chairman Ugur Bayar said the privatization of Etibank and Kurtalan Cement were complete and the sale of Havas shares was finalized yesterday. He noted that a number of state-run industries will be privatized this year and that the profit expectations from their sale were put at $12.2 billion. /Sabah-Hurriyet/

CIVIL SERVANTS CONTINUE DEMONSTRATIONS
Civil servants continued their demonstrations yesterday protesting against a government draft bill which excludes the right to strike and the right to conclude collective bargaining agreements. All participating civil servants, members of the Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK), gathered in public squares nationwide and staged actions protesting against the government. /All papers/

NEW HEALTH INSURANCE REGULATIONS
Nami Cagan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security announced at a press conference early Wednesday morning that the ministry has prepared a new draft bill regulating the Fund for Self-Employed Workers' (Bag-Kur) and Bag- Kur agricultural health insurance as well as social insurance rights in Turkey for people working overseas, which has been presented to the Prime Ministry. Cagan said during the press conference that the most important aspect of the new draft bill was the regulation regarding health insurance for agricultural workers and their families.

Cagan said in particular that his ministry had detailed new regulations in order to increase the rights of agricultural workers in line with the rights of self-employed workers. /All papers/

TURKISH TECHNOLOGY AMONG WORLD GIANTS
Turkish companies producing technology will participate at the CeBIT'98 Technology Fair which is the second largest fair of its kind in the world, and the first in Europe. A total of 28 Turkish companies will attend the fair in Hannover between 19-25 March. 600 thousand visitors are expected to visit the fair. /Hurriyet/

FRENCH 'GROUPE SCHNEIDER' FIRM IN TURKEY
Jean-Paul Jacamon, new Chairman of the French Groupe Schneider firm, a leader in electricity distribution, industrial control systems and automation is visiting Turkey. Jacamon said that they "trusted" Turkey and would continue their investments in Turkey. He added, "We want to make Turkey an investment base in the future. We target to make an annual investment of two million US dollars in Turkey until 2000." /Hurriyet/

'MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE CENTER' IN EDIRNE
Turkey continues with her initiatives on the international platforms to form a "Balkan Multi-National Peace Force" (BCBG) based in Edirne, with the commission to prevent clashes in the Balkans and to support other peace operations.

According to the Foreign Ministry officials, Turkey aims to contribute to peace and stability in the Europe-Atlantic theatre and to improve good neighbourly relations by establishing the BCBG. /Hurriyet/

[09] TURKEY-ISRAEL - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''WE HARSHLY CONDEMN THE INCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THREE AND WOUNDING OF THREE INNOCENT CIVILIAN PEOPLE IN HEBRON''

Responding to a question, Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that countries should refrain from behaviour which will escalate the tension in the Middle East.

''We harshly condemn the incident which caused the deaths of three and injuries to three other Palestinian workers in Hebron,'' said Utkan.

[10] TURKEY-FRANCE-EU - FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY AGAIN

Addressing the morning session of the European Conference held in London, Chirac expressed his sorrow over the fact that Turkey did not participate in the Conference, adding that ''Turkey is not outside the European Union (EU), it is a part of the EU and we would like to see Turkey with her European friends in the forthcoming meeting.''

Sources said that the final declaration of the European Conference, through the influence of Chirac, will probably include an expression saying that Turkey is a part of the EU.

[11] TURKEY-INTERNAL - VEYSEL OZERDEM, WHO ATTACKED PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN HUNGARY IN 1996, ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL

Ozerdem, who was brought by the Hungarian police, was handed over to the anti-terrorism security forces at the Ataturk Airport.

Ozerdem did not respond to the questions of journalists, who asked whether or not he knows ''Yesil'', who is a notorious person involved in the mafia- gang scandals.

[12] TURKEY-GEORGIA - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ'S VISIT TO GEORGIA

Addressing a statement to a Georgian newspaper, Schevardnadze stated that Turkey has always been close to Georgia in the latter's difficult days.

Meanwhile, Irina Canturiya, the leader of the main opposition party in Georgia, told the A.A correspondent that Turkey is the closest partner of Georgia, claiming that others are trying to block the Baku-Ceyhan project and the Russian troops should withdraw from the country as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Yżlmaz, who will be accompanied by 50 businessmen from the Black Sea region, will return to Turkey on March 14.

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