Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-16

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

16 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BULGARIAN-TURKISH JEC MEETING STARTS

[03] US: ''SYRIA PROVIDES BASE AND SHELTER TO SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK''

[04] US: ''THE S-300 MISSILES AGREEMENT SHOULD BE ANNULLED''

[05] 24 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT WHO TRIED TO ENTER TURKEY ILLEGALLY

[06] SECKINER, MINISTER OF STATE EXTENDS FRIENDSHIP TO GREECE

[07] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY - YILMAZ: ''IN WHICH PART OF THE WORLD DO THE SECURITY FORCES GET THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CAPTURE A TERRORİST?''

[08] KOC HOLDING CONCLUDES ITS INVESTMENT IN THE GAP - TRACTOR AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINES INTEGRATED FACILITY COSTS 800 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[09] ITALIAN ARRESTED IN DIYARBAKIR STARTS HUNGER STRIKE

[10] COHEN, US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DUE IN TURKEY ON FRIDAY

[11] THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE TENDER TO TAKE ''START''

[12] GEN. KARADAYI, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF, IN TBILISI - GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE: ''I AM PLEASED WITH TURKEY'S ATTACHING IMPORTANCE TO GEORGIA IN THE MILITARY FIELD''

[13] TASAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE: ''THE US WILL GIVE A 1.3 BILLION US DOLLAR LOAN TO TURKEY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY''

[14] TANER, MINISTER OF STATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

[15] MASS BLOW ON DRUG SMUGGLERS - 102 KG HEROIN SEIZED IN EASTERN VAN PROVINCE

[16] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[17] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[18] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

[19] AKSARAY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PREPARES A ''TOURISM INVENTORY'' INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS IN THE REGION

[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY WILL REQUIRE 250 BILLION KWH OF ELECTRICITY IN 2010s''

[21] SPRING OPERATION AT BORDER - 18 MORE TERRORISTS KILLED

[22] PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY STARTS TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME FOREIGNERS CAN STAY IN TURKEY

[23] TURKEY SUBMITS A DRAFT TO THE UN CONCERNING TERRORISM

[24] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH BAYKAL, THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (CHP)

[25] DYP DECIDES ON PARTIAL BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT

[26] THE TURKS FORM THE LARGEST GROUP OF FOREIGNERS IN THE EU COUNTRIES

[27] TURKISH-BULGARIAN-ROMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT STARTS AT ANTALYA

[28] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 16, 1998

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) HARASSMENT OF THREE BUSINESSMEN IN THE AEGEAN
Greek planes and speed boats harassed and Greek fanatics, who couldn't even bear the Turkish yachts, attacked three businessmen from the Aegean region.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] BULGARIAN-TURKISH JEC MEETING STARTS

The Bulgarian and Turkish technical delegations convened and expressed their views on the document of the 13th term meeting protocol to be signed on Thursday in the first day of the two-day meeting.

The issues of ''removing the lack of information regarding the potential of the Turkish and Bulgarian economies'', ''Turkish Ziraat Bank's opening an office in Sofia'', ''the relations in the field of standardization'' and ''improving the cooperation between the free trade zones'' were discussed in the meeting of the technical delegations.

The sides also exchanged views over the ''Balkan Countries Trade Development Center'' project that was earlier decided to be set up in Turkey.

State Minister Isin Celebi and Bulgarian Minister of Commerce and Tourism Valentin Vasilev will also attend the second session of the JEC meeting.

Following the meeting between Celebi and Vasilev, the 13th term meeting protocol will be signed.

It was reported that State Minister Isin Celebi, who will arrive at Sofia on Thursday, will meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Boshkov.

[03] US: ''SYRIA PROVIDES BASE AND SHELTER TO SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK''

James Rubin, the US Department of State Spokesman, responding to a question about the capture of Semdin Sakik, one of the leaders of the PKK, after an operation of the Turkish forces, said, ''the PKK is a known terrorist organization.''

Rubin noted that Sakik was one of the leaders of the PKK and that they knew that he was in Turkey at the moment.

Rubin said they earlier clearly revealed that Syria extended support and provided a base and sheltering to various terrorist organization, adding that Lebanon also provided a base to the terrorist organizations in the Bekaa valley which is under Syria's control. He also said that the PKK was trained in the same region.

The US identifies the PKK as a ''fierce and bloody terrorist organization.'' The US Department of State reports that Syria was shown as one of the countries extending support to the separatist terrorist organization.

[04] US: ''THE S-300 MISSILES AGREEMENT SHOULD BE ANNULLED''

Jamie Rubin, the US Department of State Spokesman, responding to questions related to the issue, stressed that the S-300 missiles increased the danger of a clash on the island. Rubin emphasized that the S-300 agreement formed a serious obstacle for the efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus question.

Rubin said that they were continuing their requests to the Greek Cypriot side to annul the S-300 agreement.

Rubin said that the missile problem couldn't be solved by treats, adding that they requested Turkey to refrain from making threats of a military action and also wanted Turkey to display a diplomatic approach to the problem.

Rubin responding to the questions that Thomas Miller, the US Special Coordinator to Cyprus, moderated Turkey's statements related to the missile issue, said that Miller reflected the views of the US Department of State.

Tension escalated on Cyprus due to the attitude of the European Union (EU) and the S-300 missiles. Miller will pay a visit to the island by the end of this month. Richard Holbrooke, the US President's Special Representative to Cyprus, will also go to the Island in May.

Holbrooke, who said that he felt uneasy about the decision of the EU to start full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, is expending efforts to bring together Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side.

[05] 24 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT WHO TRIED TO ENTER TURKEY ILLEGALLY

The border toops, patrolling in the Bolucek region of Dogubeyazit County at the Turkish-Iranian border, seized 18 Pakistanis and six Iranians who wanted to enter Turkey illegally.

Officials said that the illegal immigrants will be deported after their interrogations.

[06] SECKINER, MINISTER OF STATE EXTENDS FRIENDSHIP TO GREECE

Seckiner congratulated the Minister of Culture and Sports of Greece which will host the 2004 Olympic Games and invited him to Turkey to strengthen sportive relations between the two countries.

The message of Seckiner which he sent to the Greek Minister of Culture and Sports said:

''As the Minister of State Responsible for Youth and Sports, I want to congratulate you on Athens being elected as the city which will host the 2004 Olympic Games. I have the belief that cooperation and friensdship between our athletes and youth should be strengthened. We believe that a meeting between our ministries and organizations to establish strengthened relations will be very beneficial.''

[07] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY - YILMAZ: ''IN WHICH PART OF THE WORLD DO THE SECURITY FORCES GET THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CAPTURE A TERRORİST?''

Responding to the questions of reporters on his return from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey, Yilmaz said that the cross border operation continued in the Sirnak region, adding that he received information that more than 30 terrorists were killed so far.

Yilmaz said that the security forces have to capture all criminals. Furthermore, we won't give to the press some of the information given to us on the issue, he said.

[08] KOC HOLDING CONCLUDES ITS INVESTMENT IN THE GAP - TRACTOR AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINES INTEGRATED FACILITY COSTS 800 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

The cost of the ''Tractor and Agricultural Machines Integrated Facility'', which was constructed on an area of four thousand square meters, was 800 Billion Turkish Liras.

Ayhan Guner, an official from the Koc Holding, told the A.A correspondent that the integrated facility's construction process, which started in January 1996, was concluded and that the facility was constructed on an area of four thousand square meters near the Sanliurfa-Viransehir motorway.

Pointing out that the facility includes a showroom, selling and spare part services and an open parking lot, Guner said that a total of 20 people including four engineers are working at the facility.

''We will open the facility on May 6, 1998. We expect Rahmi Koc, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Koc Holding, to attend the opening ceremony of the facility that will provide services to 11 provinces in the region,'' Guner said.

[09] ITALIAN ARRESTED IN DIYARBAKIR STARTS HUNGER STRIKE

Turkish Embassy officials in Rome said that Umberto Vattani, the Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary General summoned Gurkan to the Foreign Ministry and got information about the situation of Frisullo. Vattani also reiterated the demand of his country to release Frisullo.

The same sources said that Wednesday's meeting lasted 15 minutes and that the Italian side expressed the uneasiness created in domestic policy due to Frisullo's extended arrest.

The sources said that the Italian side also said this incident damaged relations between the two countries for nothing.

Gurkan told the Italian authorities once more that this issue was related to justice and stressed that they were not able to intervene with the legal authorities.

Gurkan was summoned to the Italian Foreign Ministry three times by Vattani and once by Rino Serri, the Ministry Undersecretary since the arrest of Frisullo.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Damiano Frisullo, the Italian journalist, started a hunger strike in the Diyarbakir prison. A sentence of five years imprisonment was requested for Frisullo.

Muharrem Erbey, the lawyer of the Italian journalist said that Frusullo gave a petition to the Prison Prosecutor's Office to be given to the Ministry of Justice to change several conditions in prison.

It was reported that the hunger strike of the Italian journalist will continue until April 28, the date when his hearing will take place.

[10] COHEN, US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DUE IN TURKEY ON FRIDAY

The Ministry of Defense statement said that Cohen will pay a two-day visit to Turkey as the official guest of Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of National Defense.

Turkey will be the first stop of his tour to regional countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece.

Cohen is scheduled to meet with Gen. Cevik Bir, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and will stage a joint news conference with Sezgin after his contacts.

President Suleyman Demirel is also expected to receive Cohen in the evening hours.

Cohen will proceed to the Incirlik Base, on April 18 and will leave for Jordan after concluding observations the same day.

This visit of Cohen which was planned to take place in February was postponed after the tension escalated in the Gulf.

Bilateral military relations, modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish-Greek relations, the Aegean and Cyprus will be discussed during the visit.

Also, within this framework, talks are expected to be held on frigates, F- 15 war planes and attack helicopters.

The ''Northern Watch'' air control operation, carried out to control the no- flight zone in the northern part of Iraq, will also be discussed.

William Cohen, will discuss military and strategic issues during his visits to countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece.

In Athens, Cohen will discuss the 40 F-15E type war planes issue which Greece wants to purchase. Realization of the purchase in question will upset military power balance in the Aegean.

The Boeing company participated in the international bid opened by Greece for the F-15E type planes.

Washington, D.C. earlier gave permission to Boeing to participate in the bid, but the ratification of the US congress is required if the bid is given to Boeing.

[11] THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE TENDER TO TAKE ''START''

Studies related to the route for the constuction of the bridge started last week.

Many bridge and highway construction companies from Turkey and abroad are interested in the third Bosphorus Bridge and the international tender notification is expected to be announced in the second half of this year.

The third bridge will be constructed with the ''build-operate-transfer'' model. Foreign company groups will hand over the bridge to the General Directorate of Highways after operating the bridge for 10 or 15 years.

No place was specified yet for the location for constructing the new bridge. It will be constructed in an appropriate route between the two existing bridges.

The third bridge is expected to cost approximately 700 million US dollars and is also expected to be completed within a period of four years.

The leading bridge construction companies from Japan, Italy, the US, Germany and France are interested in the bridge.

The first and the second bridges were constructed by Japanese companies and the construction of the highways providing links with the bridges were made by Italian and Turkish companies.

A rail system will be established in the middle of this new bridge, which is expected to ease the Istanbul traffic and a rapid transport service will be provided for the people.

Meanwhile, the officials said that the third bridge, foreseen to be constructed on the Istanbul Straits was not an alternative to the ''Tube passage'' project, but a situation stemming from necessities.

[12] GEN. KARADAYI, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF, IN TBILISI - GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE: ''I AM PLEASED WITH TURKEY'S ATTACHING IMPORTANCE TO GEORGIA IN THE MILITARY FIELD''

General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff, who is holding contacts in Tbilisi, met with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.

Eduard Shevardnadze said in the meeting that the relations between Turkey and Georgia had further improved.

Shevardnadze expressed his satisfaction with Turkey's successes recorded in the fields of the military, economy and industry.

Gen. Karadayi said that Shevardnadze is one of the most intelligent statesmen in the world and that he has positive thoughts to secure peace and stability in the region.

Gen. Karadayi, who came to Georgia on an invitation for an official visit from Gen. Vardiko Nadibadze, the Georgian Minister of Defense, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nadibadze to contribute to the military relations between the two countries.

[13] TASAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE: ''THE US WILL GIVE A 1.3 BILLION US DOLLAR LOAN TO TURKEY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY''

Tasar, who is in New York, told the A.A correspondent that the US would give a five-year term 1.3 billion US dollar loan to Turkey for the improvement of animal husbandry.

Pointing out that the medium and large-scale enterprises would be encouraged with the project prepared, Tasar said, ''from this perspective, the small-scale enterprises will be given priority for the use of the loan if they unite and set up large-scale producers' unions.''

Noting that they would also encourage the raising of Angora goats, bees, water buffaloes and the production of fodder plants, Tasar said that the total financing for the project this year was 27 million US dollars.

Mustafa Tasar said that they would start to ameliorate the domestic species by importing breeding animals.

[14] TANER, MINISTER OF STATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Responding to the questions of reporters Taner said that during his meeting with Camdesus and Fisher, he told them that the positive results for the first quarter in the Turkish economy will continue in the second quarter and that it will produce better results.

Taner said that the IMF also thought that the results obtained were positive and that both sides were sorry that the agreement couldn't be realized as the social security reform couldn't be issued.

Noting that the IMF President expressed pleasure at the results of the program implemented by the Turkish Government, Taner added, ''we promised each other to give a better performance next time.''

Taner said that they expended efforts to turn Turkey into a country attracting foreign capital worth 20-25 billion US dollars as a country which reduced inflation, and as a country which realized structural reforms and reforms on social security, banking and insurance systems. He said one third of the budget deficit stemmed from the security system.

Taner said that the government's estimate for inflaton as of the end of the year is 50 percent and that they were expending efforts to reduce inflation to an even lower percentage.

The Minister of State Taner said, ''Turkey will realize privatization until September worth 10 billion US dollars. If you still say that privatization was not made, then I will tell you that the privitization which this government has realized is more than that of the previous governments.''

Taner also said that trying to have elections in Turkey in 1998 would be like puttting dynamite in the Turkish economy.

Taner is expected to meet Stuart Eisenstad, the US Assistant Secretary of State and Stanley Fisher, the IMF Deputy Chairman.

[15] MASS BLOW ON DRUG SMUGGLERS - 102 KG HEROIN SEIZED IN EASTERN VAN PROVINCE

It was also revealed that drug smugglers gave a share to the separatist terrorist organization to bring raw materials from Iran.

The Security Department officials said that patrolling police teams raided the processing facility belonging to Naci Yilmaz when the activity was seen at the house.

Police teams seized 102 kg of heroin, having a market value of approximately 2.5 trillion Turkish Liras and the staff used in the drug processing.

Safi Arvas (48), Naci Yilmaz (34), Celal Yakut (35) Necip Tekin (43), Veysel Gurcin (29), Yasin Akkoyun (33), Ya&thorn;ar Kizilay (28), Refik Yilmaz (24), Orhan Yilmaz (28), Sofi Yilmaz (53) and M.Y. (16) were taken into custody in connection with the haul.

Necip Tekin, in his interrogation said they gave a share to the separatist terrorist PKK organization to bring heroin raw materials from Iran.

Omer Sagirkaya, the Chief of the Security Department in eastern Van Province said that drug trafficking increased in the region together with terrorism incidents, adding that a total of 2.4 tonnes of heroin and 22.3 tonnes of hashish were seized in the region during operations launched since 1983.

[16] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

ISTANBUL STOCK EXCHANGE UPSWING CONTINUES
In line with the calm atmosphere prevailing in Turkish politics, the Istanbul Stock Exchange is on the upswing and yesterday reached 3,821 points with a daily transactions volume of 125.1 billion Turkish Liras, setting a record. This has also been observed by the British Robert Flemings Investment Bank, the latest report which notes that the Istanbul Stock Exchange has been advancing beyond the required trading level. /Sabah/

SATELLITE FAIR OPENS
A satellite and cable television broadcasting industry fair, which is a unique example of its kind in and around Turkey, is opening tomorrow on the campus of the Istanbul Technical University. This fair, bringing together the world's leading communications firms, will last until Sunday. /Sabah/

THE EU COMMISSIONER COMES TO TURKEY FOR LOBBYING
Martin Bangemann, the European Union Commissioner responsible for the industry and information technologies, will come to Turkey soon where he will meet with Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz and Yalim Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade. During this high level visit, Bangemann will convene with the members of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), aiming to lobby with them for the continuation of relations in non-political fields, despite the bottleneck in the Turkey-EU politics. /Sabah/

TURKEY TO ESTABLISH SMSEs IN KYRGYZSTAN

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday requsted the Turkish businessmen to make more investments in Kyrgyzstan. Noting that Turkey would continue to support the establishment of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMSEs) in Kyrgyzstan, Yilmaz said that a great part of the 75 million US dollar credit provided to Kyrgyzstan by the Turkish Eximbank was being utilized. Projects where the remaining credit will be used will be determined shortly. On the second day of his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Yilmaz visited with Mukambaev, the Kyrgyz Speaker of the Parliament. Later, the Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kubanicbek Cumaliyev and Yilmaz attended a Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Council meeting.

The Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev gave a banquet in Yilmaz's honour yesterday evening. Akayev praised Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and said that they would take into consideration the reforms made by Ataturk in the struggle against fundamentalist expansion. /Milliyet-Sabah/

US DEFENCE SECRETARY TO VISIT TURKEY
William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defence is expected to arrive in Ankara tomorrow according to press releases. Cohen will likely be received by President Suleyman Demirel and also meet with officials to talk about Turkey's role in the NATO and other strategic matters.

After his visit to Ankara, Cohen will journey on to other Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and finally Greece. /Hurriyet/

BOEING DELIVERING ON TIME
Boeing has announced that six passenger planes ordered by the Turkish Airlines (THY) will be delivered on time without any postponement. Mark Hooper, responsible for Boeing Central Asia-Europe Communications, yesterday detailed the delivery programme. Accordingly, two of the 737-type planes will be delivered in July, three in August and one in September. /Milliyet/

[17] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

OPERATIONS AGAINST PKK WILL CONTINUE
The Chief of General Staff officials announced yesterday that operations similar to the one during which Semdin Sakik was captured, will continue. They said, '' the PKK teams in the mountains are finished. Most of the captured terrorists are women and teenagers. The PKK terrorist organization has been marginalized. It is turning into a crime organization depending on advantage.''

Meanwhile representatives of the Foreign Ministry abroad are instructed to follow the activities of the PKK terrorists organization especially in Europe and the Russian Federation where the organization has been trying to gain support. /Cumhuriyet/

KARADAYI IN AZERBAIJAN
Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff, has gone on to Tbilisi after completing his contacts in Azerbaijan. Before his departure from Baku, Karadayi said that socially and economically Azerbaijan would be the star of the future. He added that the Azerbaijan visit has been very productive for both countries and that Turkey welcomed the recent developments in Azerbaijan. /Cumhuriyet/

COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA
The Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi and the Georgian Minister of Defense, General Vardiko Nadibadzade signed an agreement yesterday for more military training cooperation. The agreement also includes mutual visits by expert teams in military areas, information exchange, military technical cooperation, cooperation in the NATO programmes and security measures. /Cumhuriyet/

YILMAZ, ''TURKEY'S EU OBSTACLE IS GERMANY''
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, answering questions asked by the German weekly newspaper ''Die Zeit'' said that Germany's discrimination between Turkey and the former Warsaw Pact member countries was unacceptable. He claimed that the European Union former term Chairman and Luxembourg Prime Minister J. Claude Junker had obeyed the orders of the German Prime Minister. Yilmaz continued, ''If the EU accepts Greek Cyprus as a full member, then the division of the island will be officially accepted. If this happens then Turkey will integrate with Turkish Cyprus.'' He said that Germany was the obstacle to Turkey's full EU membership. /Cumhuriyet/

CEM, ''THERE IS EQUALITY IN BOSNIA''
Turkey follows a balanced policy towards Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said that Turkey had an ''equal value'' and balanced policy towards the peoples of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia. On the second leg of his current visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina Ismail Cem held meetings with the delegations of his Bosnian counterpart Zadansko Privic. After the meetings Cem said that Turkey would continue to support Bosnia, which was in a process of reconstruction in every field.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Serbia, Dragan Bozanic, who attended the meetings, told Cem that they would also like to improve their relations with Turkey. In another meeting with Mithad Haradzic, the Head of the Sarajevo Canton, asked the Turkish firms to invest in the region. During the meetings a highway project which will tie Croatia to Europe was also discussed.

Later Cem was received by President Alia Izzetbegovic, who complained to Cem about refugee problems. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet/

[18] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

TURKEY'S VICTORY
Following the capture of Semdin Sakik, a high-level PKK administrator, the British Financial Times newspaper said in its issue yesterday that Turkey had won a victory against the PKK terrorist organization. The New York Times newspaper also devoted wide coverage to the operation during which Semdin Sakik was caught in Northern Iraq and brought to Turkey.

Similarly, New Izvestiya, a Russian newspaper, noted that since Turkey has brought under control the PKK militants in Southeastern Anatolia, and with the construction of a Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, there will be new economic growth in the region, thus taking military action off the agenda. /Milliyet/

US INITIATIVES TO RECOGNIZE THE TRNC
The Greek Cypriot press claims in a confidential report sent by the Greek Permanent UN Representative, Hristos Zaharakis, to the Greek Foreign Ministry, that the US is launching initiatives on a proposal for the recognition of Turkish Cyprus as a state. According to the Greek Cypriot press, Zaharakis in his report dated March 19 noted that the US will advance its efforts to this end within the framework of a ''Dayton-type Conference'' planned to be held next summer. The report asks the Greek and Greek Cypriot governments to be ''careful''./Milliyet/

TRILATERAL BALKAN SUMMIT MEETS IN ANTALYA
President Suleyman Demirel joins his Bulgarian and Romanian counterparts for a trilateral Balkan summit in the Mediterranean province of Antalya today. The President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister when he meets with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and Romanian President Emil Constantinescu for the trilateral summit, the first phase of which was held in Varna in October last year. The leaders are also expected to discuss regional security concerns such as Kosovo, organized crime, terrorism, drug and arms smuggling and money laundering. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY'S FOREIGN CAPITAL PERMITS FOR MARCH AT 134 MILLION DOLLARS
Turkey's foreign capital permits stood at 134 million US dollars in March, according to figures supplied by the Treasury on Wednesday. A Treasury statement said that a total of 435 million US dollars has been permitted in the first quarter of this year. The total value of all foreign capital permits since 1980 was 22.6 billion US dollars, the statement said. /Milliyet/

GREEKS HARASS TURKISH FAMILIES
During the recent holiday period, three businessmen from Izmir and their families hired some local cruise boats to sail around the Aegean Sea coastline. They also sailed around Kardak island where they were confronted by a Greek Navy assault boat, which harassed them until a Turkish Navy vessel came along and saved them all from a difficult situation.

After spending a night in Bodrum, the three families sailed on to the Greek island of Kos where again they were subjected to harassment and attacks when even the young children on the island pelted them all with rubbish. At the first opportunity, they all left the island and returned to Turkish waters. Later the businessmen noted that Greek police officials on the island did nothing to help them. /Hurriyet/

[19] AKSARAY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PREPARES A ''TOURISM INVENTORY'' INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS IN THE REGION

Pointing out that Aksaray Province is full of historical, cultural and touristic assets, the inventory stressed that there have been a lot of settlement places and artifacts dating back to the Hellenistic era, Roman Empire era and the Byzantine era.

The inventory said that Aksaray became an important ''religious center'' in the first years of Christianity and that there are eight churches in the Ihlara Valley, nine churches in the Belisirma region, six churches in the Yaprakhisar region and two churches in the Selime region.

The inventory said that there are a total of 21 Christian works, most of which are churches in different settlement places, dating back to the ancient Roman Empire, and that more than 50 churches remained standing, some of them had been destroyed and some of them had been transformed into mosques and opened for prayers.

Pointing out that some important sect founders had lived in the Ihlara Valley, which became an important religious center in the first years of Christianity, since the 4th century AD, the inventory said that there were different rules for monastery life in the Ihlara Valley than the systems in Egypt and Syria.

[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY WILL REQUIRE 250 BILLION KWH OF ELECTRICITY IN 2010s''

President Demirel received Huseyin Arabul, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Energy Council's Turkish National Committee, and the members of the Executive Board.

Pointing out that Turkey started an initiative to re-create five million kwh of energy, Demirel said that there was a need for 30 billion US dollars in financing to realize this initiative.

''We will lay the foundation of the Deriner Dam on the Coruh River on April 26. A total of 800 million US dollars was needed for this and the Swiss and British firms provided the money. The Turkish and Russian firms will construct this dam,'' President Demirel said.

Noting that Sapar Murat Turkmenbasi, the President of Turkmenistan, would visit the US in the near future, President Demirel said that he would meet with Turkmenbasi when he returned from the US.

Pointing out that he would meet with the President of the Caucasus countries in northern Trabzon Province on April 26, President Demirel said, ''we will discuss the transfer of gas and oil to Turkey and to other countries via Turkey,'' adding that Turkey should increase her production capacity to at first 27 million KWH and then to 30 million KWH.

''I hope the Tigris and Kralkizi Dams over the Tigris River will be ready to produce electricity by June this year. The Batman, Ilisu and Cizre Dams over the Tigris River are nearly ready to be opened for tender,'' President Demirel said.

[21] SPRING OPERATION AT BORDER - 18 MORE TERRORISTS KILLED

The air-supported spring operation aimed at the separatist terrorist organization, which was planning to stage activities, arecontinuing.

War planes and cobra helicopters taking off from the Diyarbakir Military Airport destroyed the shelters in the operation region belonging to the separatist terrorists.

The hot clashes, which started in the Northern Iraq border region with 100- persons headed by Murat Karayilan having the code name of ''Cemal'', are continuing.

A total of 81 terrorists were killed in the first two days of the operations.

[22] PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY STARTS TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME FOREIGNERS CAN STAY IN TURKEY

Osman Yumakogullari, the Istanbul Deputy from the Virtue Party (FP), said in the session regarding the draft that Turkey should make small sacrifices for big advantages. ''If we want our citizens to live in peace abroad, we should give the same rights to the foreigners living in our country,'' said Yumakogullari.

Necati Cetinkaya, the Konya Deputy from the True Path Party (DYP) said that 70 percent of the foreigners living in Turkey are citizens of the European Union (EU) countries and that giving every kind of facility to all foreigners would contribute to relations with all countries.

Following the discussion on the whole draft, the members of the General Assembly started to discuss the articles of the draft. However, Hasan Korkmazcan, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, closed the session, before the discussion of the articles was finished.

[23] TURKEY SUBMITS A DRAFT TO THE UN CONCERNING TERRORISM

The draft resolution stresses that terrorism is one of the serious violations of human rights and it should be condemned regardless of its kind and source.

The draft resolution points out that terrorism targets against the basic freedom of human beings which is the right to life and it is also a big threat for democracy and the principles of the legal state.

Asking all members of the UN to cooperate for preventing terrorism, the draft resolution also requests the UN Secretary General to attribute more importance to the efforts launched against terrorism.

Turkey also stresses that the struggle against terrorism has to be taken up in detail during the UN Human Rights Commission meetings that will be held next year.

[24] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH BAYKAL, THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (CHP)

Addressing a press briefing after the meeting, Deniz Baykal said that he didn't make a detailed plan concerning the coming term with Prime Minister Yılmaz, adding that they explained their views to each other regarding the activities of the parliament until the end of June.

Noting that they couldn't reach a common view about the period after June, Baykal added that he will meet with Yılmaz again on April 23 and try to reach a long-term shared understanding.

Baykal said that the CHP will extend full support to the legal regulations which will establish the infrastructure for the elections and also about the draft laws on the struggle against fundamentalism and the tax law until the Parliament is closed for the summer.

[25] DYP DECIDES ON PARTIAL BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT

The DYP General Administrative Board convened the same day under the leadership of Ciller.

Addressing a statement after the meeting, Ciller claimed that the country is in a period of transition and this can only end by holding an election.

Defending the view that the Parliament does not reflect the national will today, Ciller said, ''the Parliament has cut off its links with the people.''

Tansu Ciller said that the decision will also be discussed during the DYP Representative Assembly that will convene in the coming days.

[26] THE TURKS FORM THE LARGEST GROUP OF FOREIGNERS IN THE EU COUNTRIES

The report says that 45.5 percent of the foreigners live in Germany and 33.6 percent in France. A total of 90 percent of the foreigners living in Germany are Turkish.

The results of the research which includes the Mediterranean countries called ''MED-12'', shows that one million MED-12 citizens came to Germany between 1986 and 1995. The report says that 91 thousand Turkish people came to the EU countries in 1995 and 75 thousand of them began living in Germany.

According to the Eurostat 27.6 percent of the foreigners living in the EU countries came from MED-12, 9 percent from Asia, 5.8 percent from Africa and 4.9 percent from the American countries.

[27] TURKISH-BULGARIAN-ROMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT STARTS AT ANTALYA

Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior and the other Turkish officials are also participating at the summit. The Bulgarian delegation is headed by Nadezha Mihailova, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, while Andrei Plesu, the Romanian Foreign Minister is the head of the Romanian delegation.

The three presidents will hold a joint press meeting after the summit.

''The Agreement on Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illegal Drugs, Laundering of Black Money, Smuggling of Weapons and Human Beings and Cooperation Against Other Important Crimes'' is expected to be signed during the summit.

The Presidential Press Center recalled that a meeting between the three presidents was held on October 3, 1997, in Varna where they agreed to sign a comprehensive agreement on ''Organized Crime and Terrorism'' at the end of that meeting, therefore President Demirel invited the two presidents to another meeting in Antalya.

''A joint declaration is also expected to be published concerning the establishment of a Tripartite Free Economy and Trade Center between the three countries and also about the summit decisions. During the Antalya Summit, the three leaders will exchange views about the security problems of Southeastern Europe and also about existing and potential fields of cooperation between the three countries in the region. The Presidents attribute great importance to the tripartite summit-process which will give an opportunity for the three countries to come together within the framework of a wider Balkan cooperation. The three leaders aim to set up a strong partnership in Southeastern Europe, particularly in the fields of trade, economy, transportation, communications and security. The institutional framework of this partnership is formed within the process of summits,'' the statement added.

[28] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 16, 1998

Bangemann, who will proceed to Ankara on April 17, is expected to be received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and meet with Yalim Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade and Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transportation.

ANKARA - Ivica Kostovic, the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Technology, and the accompanying delegation met on Thursday with Rustu Kazum Yucelen, the Minister of State.

The protocol including cooperation between Turkey and Croatia in the field of science and technology will be signed the same day at the Turkish Council for Scientific and Technical Research (TUBITAK).

VAN - A total of seven Afghans trying to enter Turkey illegally were captured on Thursday in Caldiran County of eastern Van Province.

It was reported that the security forces patrolling near Hangedik Village of Caldiran County near the Iranian border captured Nasır Amet, Muhammed Hinifi, Halis Illam, Muhammed Sahin, Muhammed Yunus, Ineyetullah Naimi and Muhammed Maruf, the seven Afghans.

Officials said that these Afghans were taken into custody on charges of violating the Passport Law and the border and that they would be deported when their legal proceedings were concluded.

KOCAELI - The Interteks International Fair Center will be opened with a ceremony in Izmit on Friday. The center was described as the ''largest fair center in Turkey and one of the largest fair centers in the world''.

It was reported that the center has a capacity for 10 thousand visitors, in the meantime there are five seminar halls at the center.

It is expected that 500 thousand people will visit the Fair Center annually, which will be opened with the fair of Labour and Building Machines.

ISTANBUL - The International Civilian Flight Fair ''AIREX '98'' opened at the Ataturk Airport with a ceremony on Thursday.

Addressing the ceremony, Sureyya Yucel Ozden, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transportation, said that that civilian flight has been developing in Turkey continuously. Ozden added that such fairs will contribute to Turkish civilian flights.

Nearly 100 foreign and native firms including Boeing, Delta, Casa, Agusta, have joined the fair. The AIREX '98 Fair will remain open until April 19.

ISTANBUL/KADIKOY - Rear Admiral Traian Atanasiu, the Romanian Commander of the Naval Forces, visited the Naval War Academy in Tuzla on Thursday.

Atanasiu held talks with Vice Admiral Taner Ezgu, the Commander of the Naval War Academy, and visited the facilities at the Academy.

ANKARA - Turkish-Austrian second term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting will be held in Ankara on Friday.

Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of State, will head the Turkish delegation and Hannes Farnleitner, the Federal Economy Minister will head the Austrian delegation.

The trade volume, increase of joint investments, energy, transportation, health, social security, agriculture, forestry and improvement of relations in the fields of the environment and tourism will be discussed during the meeting.

Information will be given to the Austrian side about the privatization activities in Turkey, the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the free zones.

GAZIANTEP - A seminar called the ''European Communities Institutional Law'' will be held on April 18, it was reported on Thursday.

Mesut Olcal, the Secretary General of the Gaziantep Chamber of Trade said that they aim to inform the lawyers in the region about the legal structure and mechanisms of the European Union (EU) during the seminar which will be held by the Representation of the European Commission in Turkey and the Gaziantep Bar.

Olcal said the laws of the European Communities gained importance after Turkey entered into the Customs Union with EU, adding that Prof. Dr. Tugrul Arat, the Director General of EU Affairs at the State Planning Organization (DPT), Prof. Dr. Fusun Arsava, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Political Science (SBF) and other scientists will address the seminar.

ANKARA - The 10th Ankara International Film Festival will be held between May 1-10, it was reported on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference Dogan Tasdelen, the Mayor of Cankaya, said that the budget of the festival is 366 thousand US dollars and 350 films will be shown and 28 awards will be presented during the festival.

The Cankaya Municipality has contributed 12 billion Turkish Liras and the Ministry of Culture 5 billion Turkish Liras to the Ankara International Film Festival.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The World Bank approved on Thursday a 13.1 million US dollars loan for the Cesme-Alacati Water Supply and Sewerage Project at Cesme and Alacati.

Nuri Ertan, the Mayor of Cesme, said that the project will be completed in 2003 and the loan will be provided at the end of this year.

The total project will cost 24 million US dollars. 5.5 million US dollars of the amount will be provided by the Ministry of Tourism and 5.4 million US dollars by the Union of the Municipality of Cesme and Alacati.

ANKARA (A.A) - Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence are due to go to Austria and Romania on April 20 for an officail visit, it was reported on Thursday. He will meet with his Austrian counterpart Werner Fasslabend the same day.

Sezgin will proceed to Romania, the second step of his visits, on April 22 and return to Turkey on April 25 after completing his meetings.

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