Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-20

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

20 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-TERRORISM - SIX TERRORISTS DIE IN THE CLASHES IN HATAY PROVINCE

[02] TURKEY-JORDAN - KING HUSSEIN: ''OUR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ARE EXCELLENT''

[03] TURKEY-GERMANY - MEMBER OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT DOSS: - ''TURKISH ECONOMY IS DYNAMIC''

[04] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW

[05] NATO MANEUVERS - ''STRONG RESOLVE '98'' MANEUVERS TO FINISH ON SATURDAY

[06] TURKEY TO PROCURE 5 SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTERS FROM ITALY

[07] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 20, 1998

[08] SEMINAR ON ''MARITIME TRAFFIC IN THE TURKISH STRAITS''

[09] GERMANY'S AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA VERGAU: ''TURKEY AND EUROPE NEED EACH OTHER''

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ VISITS TESK

[01] TURKEY-TERRORISM - SIX TERRORISTS DIE IN THE CLASHES IN HATAY PROVINCE

Officials told the A.A correspondent that 40 terrorists opened fire on the teams of the Erzin Special Operations Group Command who were continuing the operations in the region. In the clashes 6 terrorists were killed and the two privates Halil Tassiz (Denizli) and Ozan Kircan (Erzurum) died. Kazım Karatas who was wounded during the clashes was taken to the Osmaniye State Hospital.

The operations are continuing to capture the other terrorists.

[02] TURKEY-JORDAN - KING HUSSEIN: ''OUR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ARE EXCELLENT''

King Hussein who is in Washington, D.C. to revive the Middle East peace process which is in a deadlock, met with Bill Clinton, the President of the US. The US has been working to revive the peace talks between Israel and Palestine, but she failed to get her proposals to the two sides accepted.

The US wants Israel to withdraw from 15 percent of the West Bank and to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements. At the same time the US offers strict security measures to prevent Palestinian terrorism against Israel. However, both sides do not find the US's proposals sufficient. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister says that Israel can withdraw from 6 percent of the West Bank, but Yaser Arafat, the Leader of Palestine finds 15 percent to be ''insufficient''.

[03] TURKEY-GERMANY - MEMBER OF THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT DOSS: - ''TURKISH ECONOMY IS DYNAMIC''

The members of the German Parliament led by Hans Jurgen Doss have come to Turkey with the invitation of the Turkish Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, the Foundation for Independent Workers and Administrators (TOSYOV) and the Conrad Adenauer Foundation.

Addressing a press conference, Doss said that their visit to Turkey is very positive and added, ''We will do our utmost to develop cooperation between Turkey and Germany.''

Reminding that the Turkish businessmen are met with visa problems, Doss said that they will work to ease this problem for businessmen. Doss pointed out that the most concrete result of his visit to Turkey is that they decided to arrange a conference with TOSYOV and the Conrad Adenauer Foundation for politicians and businessmen from both countries. Doss said that the conference will be focused on the investments in the third world countries.

The members of the German Parliament left Turkey after the meeting.

[04] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW

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

PRESIDENT DEMIREL ATTENDS NEVRUZ CELEBRATIONS
This week the Nevruz Spring festival is being celebrated all over Turkey. Within the framework of the celebrations, President Suleyman Demirel will light the Nevruz bonfire in Bursa today. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who was scheduled to participate in the festivities in Siirt, has had to cancel his programme because of bad weather. /Sabah/

CLASHES IN HATAY
A group of 40 PKK terrorists yesterday attacked security forces carrying out operations in Hatay Province. Six PKK terrorists and two soldiers were killed in the clashes. One soldier who was wounded has been hospitalized.

At the same time, the trial of Eva Juncke, a German national suspected of fighting together with the PKK terrorist organization, began yesterday in Van. Juncke was caught during clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and the PKK terrorist organization last September. /Sabah/Milliyet/

ANNAN SENDS MESSAGE TO CYPRUS
The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan wants both sides living on Cyprus to continue their contacts and expressed his concern about the existing conflict on the island in a letter to Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Glafkos Klerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, sent via Diego Cordovez, his Special Cyprus Envoy who is holding meetings with both sides on the island. Cordovez and Denktas yesterday held a meeting which was also attended by Mumtaz Soysal, the Democratic Left Party Deputy, as a constitutional counsellor to Denktas. In a statement after the meeting, Denktas maintained his stance on equality between both sides for starting a negotiation process. Cordovez, however, tried to give optimistic messages saying that it had been a positive meeting and that he well understood the position of the Turkish side. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH AMBASSADOR BECOMES HEAD OF HUMAN RIGHTS COURT
Ambassador Riza Turmen, who has spent 26 years in the Foreign Ministry service and recently represented Turkey at the European Council, has been appointed as the President of the Human Rights Court of the European Council. Turkmen will take up his new post on November 1. He will keep this post for six years. /Hurriyet/

FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN EGYPT
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister starts a three-day visit to Egypt today. During the visit Cem will be received by the Egyptian President Husnu Mubarek and Prime Minister Kemal Garruzi and will meet with his Egyptian counterpart Amr Musa. The most critical topic on the agenda of the visit is the ''Middle East Neighbourhood Forum'', jointly declared by Turkey and Jordan. Cem will provide details on the Forum and ask for support.

It is also expected that Ismail Cem will request the support of the Eygptian administration to strengthen relations between Turkey and the Arab world. /Cumhuriyet/

VERGAU: TURKEY HAS MISINTERPRETED THE EU LUXEMBOURG DECISIONS
Hans Joachim Vergau, the German Ambassador to Turkey said that Turkey has misinterpreted the EU Luxembourg decisions. ''We believe that Turkey has a key strategic and political importance and for this reason should be as close to Europe as possible,'' Vergau noted, adding that Turkey and Germany will continue to improve their economic and strategic cooperation. /Milliyet/

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OVER 20 BILLION USD
The Central Bank reserves continue to increase. The foreign exchange reserves reached 19.8 billion US dollars on 6 March, an increase in the peak of 18.3 billion US dollars on 20 February.

Meanwhile, Turkey has paid out 2.6 billion US dollars in foreign debts since January 1998. /Milliyet/

CAR PRODUCTION UP
Turkish automobile production rose 40 percent in the first two months of 1998 from 27,135 vehicles to 38,029 vehicles, in the same period in 1997, the Automotive Manufacturers' Association (OSD) reported on Thursday. The overall vehicle production was up 39 percent compared with the same period in 1997. The OSD said that a total of 61,995 vehicles were produced in Turkey in the January-February period of this year, compared with 44,449 in 1997.

In the first two months of 1998, automobile sales in Turkey increased to 36, 498 vehicles, up 28 percent from 1997. /All papers/

[05] NATO MANEUVERS - ''STRONG RESOLVE '98'' MANEUVERS TO FINISH ON SATURDAY

A broad scope of conformity was displayed among the NATO and Partnership for Peace (PFP) countries during the maneuvers in which Turkey is participating with one frigate called the ''Akdeniz'' (Mediterranean), four F-16 fighter planes and 600 personnel.

The command center was placed for the first time in an American warship named ''Mount Whitney''. A total of 1300 personnel including eight Turkish officers were on board.

Some participant officers stressed that the maneuver was a preparation for new operations that may be launched in the regions like Kosovo.

[06] TURKEY TO PROCURE 5 SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTERS FROM ITALY

The agreement concerning the procurement of the helicopters was signed on Friday in the Undersecretariat of Defense Industry.

Minister of National Defence Ismet Sezgin, Defense Industry Undersecretary Yalcın Burcak, Italy's Ambassador to Turkey Massimiliano Bandini and Representative of Agusta Firm Giuseppe Orsi attended the signing ceremony.

During the ceremony, Sezgin said that Turkey is determined to protect her legitimate rights and interests on three seas which surround the country.

Sezgin also said that it was put out to tender the production of 6 boats which have the capacity of urgent invervention, and these boats will be ready for use next year.

The projects for the production of 3 CN-235 patrol aircrafts by Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), and the production of 10 coastguard boats are evaluated by the Coastal Security Command, Sezgin added.

Burcak said that the helicopters which cost nearly 52 million dollars and be delivered in two years will be equipped by wirelesses, infra-red camera systems, and radar/flir monitors by Aselsan, and IFF systems by Netas firms.

Bandini in his part said that the borders of the country should be protected against possible dangers, and illegal immigration, and the helicopters will serve to this aim.

[07] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 20, 1998

The meeting will continue for three days.

ANKARA - The OSCE Parliaments' Assembly Turkish Group left on Friday for Moldavia to follow the elections to be held on March 22.

The Turkish Group will meet with the Moldavian Speaker of the Parliament Motpan, the Gagoguz* President Gheorhe Tabunshik and the representatives of the political parties.

The Group will return to Turkey on March 23 after holding a press briefing in Kishinev.

(*Gagoguz - a Turkish-speaking Christian Orthodox people living in the Balkans)

ANKARA - The ''Third Turkish-Azerbaijani Commercial and Industrial Products Fair (EXPO '98)'' will take place in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku between May 9 and 13, it was reported on Friday.

The fair will be opened by the Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev.

DINAR - A mild earthquake shook Dinar County of Afyon Province on Friday.

The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4 on the Richter scale occurred at 1:00 p.m. The epicenter of the quake was Dinar.

There were no reported casualties.

ANKARA - The Turkish and Macedonian Foreign Ministers will make political consultations between March 23 and 25, it was reported on Friday.

The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, the Deputy Undersecretary, would lead the Turkish delegation and Ognen Maleski, the Macedonian Undersecretary, would lead the Macedonian delegation during the consultations in Skopje.

The bilateral relations and the developments in Kosovo will be included in the consultations.

ANKARA - The ''World Forestry Day'' will be celebrated on Saturday. The Ministry of Forestry will organize several activities to celebrate the Forestry Day between March 21 and 23.

The Ministry of Forestry said in a written statement that Ersin Taranoglu, the Minister of Forestry and the Ministry personnel would visit Ataturk's Mausoluem in Ankara on March 23 within the framework of the programme organized to celebrate the Forestry Day. Taranoglu will plant a seedling in the garden at Ataturk's Mausoleum.

A ceremony will be held at the State Museum of Fine Arts in Ankara. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will also attend the ceremony.

The aim of the World Forestry Day is to announce to people the issues of protection and development of forests by holding several meetings and activities to attract the attention of people for the protection of forests.

[08] SEMINAR ON ''MARITIME TRAFFIC IN THE TURKISH STRAITS''

The seminar on the ''Maritime Traffic in the Turkish Straits, National and International Developments'' was staged at the Motherland Party (ANAP)'s Provincial Center in Istanbul.

Yilmaz sent a message to the seminar and said that the maritime sector was a locomotive sector in the development of the country adding, ''our country, due to its geopolitical and geostrategic position, has an important place in world geography. Thus, carrying out maritime traffic in the Straits in a more secure manner is very important for us.''

Burhan Kara, the Minister of State responsible for Maritime Affairs, addressing the seminar said that the main reason for the debates made on the Straits are aimed at measures that will be taken for the security of life, property and the environment.

''The neighboring states expend efforts for the transit of more cargo ships and transports of more oil to the world markets due to their economic interests. Turkey never thought of the Straits issue as economic and commercial, but rather the importance of the Straits due to the security of the life and property of 10 million people living around the Straits,'' Kara said.

[09] GERMANY'S AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA VERGAU: ''TURKEY AND EUROPE NEED EACH OTHER''

Addressing a conference on ''Europe and Turkish-German Relations'', Vergau said that Turkey and Germany have wonderful economic relations. At the same time these two countries carry out cultural relations based on their traditions.

Speaking about the Turkish-European relations Vergau said, ''the open interest of Turkey to integration with Europe showed the way to Germany in her policy for Turkey. Turkey's entrance into the Customs Union is an important step taken to this end.''

Stressing that Germany favored Turkey's full membership in the European Union (EU), Vergau said ''everybody who understands something about the European Union, knows that Germany does not have the authority to dictate such a summit resolution. The claim that Turkey is isolated from the expansion process is baseless and it is impossible to reach such an outcome from the Luxembourg text.''

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ VISITS TESK

Yilmaz responded to the questions of reporters during his visit to Dervis Gunday, the Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK). When he was reminded of the statement of Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) that the government had concluded its natural life, Yilmaz said, ''if he thinks so, then it is his job to prepare a censure motion.''

When a reporter said that the Parliament activities were bottlenecked, Yilmaz said that they were not. Noting that the government asked the Parliament to work more speedily, Yilmaz recalled that the motion related to extension of the working hours of the Parliament was rejected with the votes of the opposition parties, including the CHP.

Yilmaz said ''next week, with a special agenda, we will again request the Parliament to work until midnight on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The duty of all parties is to serve the people.''

Noting that the rules of democracy were specific, Yilmaz said that political stability will not be upset in case everybody acts in accordance with these principles. He said that the efforts of the government to provide economic stability are hampered due to the efforts of those who create an artifical crisis.

Yilmaz said the government was focusing on inflation with all its determination, adding that this was not adequate to reduce inflation and called on the TESK to extend support to the measures taken by the government to reduce inflation.

Prime Minister Yilmaz said that the non-governmental organizations are above all products of democracy and can only act within democracy. So, non- governmental organizations should oppose the searches apart from democracy.

Noting that the government took important steps within the nine months period for tradesmen and artisans and brought private incentives to the investments of small and medium scale enterprises.

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